Tokayev tells Putin it's time to freeze the war against Ukraine, return to Istanbul agreements

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Omsk, called for freezing Russia's war against Ukraine and returning to the so-called Istanbul 2.0 formula. The meeting took place at the 22nd Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan.

Tokayev stated that the nature of Russia's aggression against Ukraine is unclear to many, including himself. He compared the situation to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, whose origins were historically understandable, but in Ukraine's case it is very difficult to comprehend.

The Kazakh president revealed that he has been receiving many signals from Europe and the United States regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and has informed Putin about them by phone. He emphasized that the conflict should be frozen based on the Istanbul agreements, where significant results were achieved. Afterward, with guarantees from major powers including Russia, progress can be made.

Earlier, in June, Putin claimed that Russia was ready for negotiations, but only on the basis of the Istanbul agreements reached in May 2025, which are unfavorable to Ukraine. According to media reports, Russia in Istanbul demanded the exclusion of US representatives from talks with the Ukrainian delegation and put forward a series of conditions, including Ukraine relinquishing territory and waiving claims to reparations. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, declared during the talks that Russia was prepared for an endless war and threatened to also seize Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.