Kazakhstan president urges Putin to end Ukraine war, return to Istanbul talks

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, proposing a return to the Istanbul agreements in a new form. Speaking at a meeting in Omsk, Tokayev suggested it was time to "freeze the conflict" and "put an end to this." He praised Putin for his "utmost flexibility in diplomatic actions" but stressed the necessity of achieving "long-awaited peace."

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If I may offer my humble opinion, since I was asked for it, perhaps it is time to freeze the conflict and return to the Istanbul agreements in a new form.

The appeal comes as Kazakhstan, a close ally of Russia, navigates a delicate foreign policy. While maintaining strong relations with Moscow, Tokayev has not endorsed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. Kazakhstan has also refrained from joining Western sanctions imposed on Russia, highlighting its complex geopolitical position.

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We need to put an end to this.

Direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul shortly after the invasion began, with further talks in 2025. Neither round of discussions successfully halted the conflict. Tokayev's call for a return to these stalled peace efforts signals Kazakhstan's desire for a resolution to the ongoing war.

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utmost flexibility in diplomatic actions