Kazakhstan calls to freeze Ukraine war, Istanbul plan

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Omsk on the sidelines of the 22nd Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum, urged freezing the Ukraine war and returning to the Istanbul Formula 2.0 with guarantees from major powers, including Russia. He said Kazakhstan does not wish to act as a mediator, arguing Russia can resolve the conflict without mediators, while noting signals from Europe and the United States about the situation. Tokayev emphasized that the origins and nature of the war are not fully understood and that the death of young people on both sides makes a stop necessary, warning that the conflict benefits opponents of both Russia and Ukraine. He praised Putin’s diplomatic flexibility and said Moscow would be briefed on developments “on the Ukrainian track.” The comments reflect Kazakhstan’s neutral stance and its push for a negotiated settlement within the Istanbul framework. Some coverage frames the Istanbul 2.0 approach as part of broader international diplomacy amid ongoing Western caution toward any Russian-led end to the war.