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Kazakh President Tokayev Urges Putin to Freeze War Against Ukraine and Return to Istanbul Talks
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has publicly urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to “freeze” Russia’s war against Ukraine and return to what he described as the “Istanbul formula 2.0.”
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Speaking during a meeting with Putin on July 25, Tokayev presented the proposal as his personal opinion, saying he had received requests to act as a mediator and believed it was time to offer a possible path toward ending the war.
“Since many people approach me, perhaps it is time to freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0, where significant results were achieved. Then, under guarantees from the major powers, including Russia, we could move toward the long-awaited peace,” Tokayev said.
According to Agentstvo, Tokayev also described the war as an interstate conflict, distancing himself from the Kremlin’s longstanding narrative that portrays Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a civil war.
“This is not a civil war,” Tokayev said. He added that the origins of the war remained difficult to understand from Kazakhstan’s perspective.
“We have always treated the Ukrainian people, their culture, and their language with respect, and we believe that the nature of this conflict is not entirely clear to many people, including ourselves.”
At the same time, Tokayev repeated several statements that align with long-standing Kremlin rhetoric. He referred to Russians and Ukrainians as “brotherly peoples,” expressed regret over casualties “on both sides,” and suggested that the continuation of the war benefits unnamed adversaries.
Tokayev also reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s strategic relationship with Moscow during the meeting. “As for Kazakhstan’s position toward Russia, have no doubt: we have always regarded, and continue to regard, Russia as a great power… and we remain committed to strategic cooperation with Russia and our allied relationship.”
Tokayev did not clarify which version of the “Istanbul formula” he was referring to. Russia has repeatedly called for future negotiations to be based on the 2022 Istanbul talks.
During those negotiations, Moscow proposed terms that included Ukrainian neutrality, significant reductions in Ukraine’s armed forces, and restrictions on future Western military assistance. Kyiv rejected those conditions, viewing them as incompatible with Ukrainian sovereignty.
In September 2025, Tokayev met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two leaders also discussed international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace and expand bilateral cooperation.
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