- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to consider freezing the war in Ukraine and returning to a revamped version of the 2022 Istanbul talks, in a rare public nudge toward peace from one of Moscow’s closest partners.
- During a meeting in Omsk, Tokayev stated that significant results were achieved during the Istanbul Formula 2.0 talks and emphasized the need to return to this framework.
- Tokayev mentioned receiving numerous signals from Europe and the United States regarding the conflict, which he described as an interstate war.
- The initial Istanbul peace talks early in the war produced a framework for a possible deal between Russia and Ukraine.
- In mid-2025, three rounds of renewed peace talks were held in Istanbul, which produced major prisoner swaps and draft memorandums outlining positions of both sides for a potential peace deal.
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Omsk, urging him to freeze the ongoing Ukraine conflict and return to the 'Istanbul Formula 2.0.' Tokayev emphasized that significant results were achieved during previous talks held in Istanbul, which he believes could pave the way for peace.12
"Perhaps this conflict should be frozen, and we should return to the 'Istanbul Formula 2.0,' since significant results were achieved there," Tokayev stated, highlighting the need for guarantees from major powers, including Russia, to move towards a long-awaited peace.
During the meeting, Tokayev noted he had received numerous signals from Europe and the United States regarding the conflict, which he described as an interstate war. He expressed confidence that Russia, as a great country, would resolve the issues independently, stating, "And all of this must be stopped, because what is happening, in my convinced opinion, is to the advantage and delight of the opponents of both Russia and the Ukrainian state."3
Tokayev's call for peace comes as Kazakhstan seeks to navigate its relationship with Russia while addressing the ongoing conflict's implications for regional stability. He refrained from positioning Kazakhstan as a mediator but emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomatic efforts to achieve a resolution.
The 'Istanbul Formula' refers to previous peace talks held in Turkey, which produced frameworks for potential agreements and significant prisoner swaps, indicating a willingness from both sides to negotiate.5
“Tokayev said he was relaying requests from European and US leaders, and expressed confidence that Russia would resolve the conflict independently. He also praised Putin's 'maximum diplomatic flexibility' during a summit with Trump in Anchorage last August, and noted the war benefits opponents of both Russia and Ukraine.”
