Kazakhstan's Tokayev Urges Putin to Freeze Ukraine War, Revive Istanbul Talks

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a rare public appeal to Vladimir Putin on July 25, 2026, urging him to consider freezing the conflict in Ukraine and reopening negotiations based on the 2022 Istanbul talks. The remarks were made at the 22nd Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Omsk, Russia, in a notable departure from Astana's usual diplomatic caution on the war.

Tokayev's Proposal

Speaking alongside Putin, Tokayev said that perhaps it was time to freeze the conflict and return to the Istanbul formula 2.0, since significant results had been achieved there. He called for any settlement to come under the guarantees of the great powers, including Russia, and expressed hope for a long-awaited peace. The statement was considered unusually frank given Kazakhstan's careful balancing act between Moscow and the West.

Kremlin's Cold Response

The Kremlin's reaction was notably cool. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin briefed Tokayev on the current state of Russia's military operations in Ukraine and quoted Putin as saying that freezing the conflict as such is impossible, given Kyiv's position. Moscow has consistently tied any peace talks to territorial recognition of its claims in Ukraine, which Kyiv and its Western allies reject outright.

Kazakhstan's Diplomatic Tightrope

Tokayev stopped well short of offering to serve as a mediator in peace negotiations, saying Kazakhstan would not take on that role. Still, his willingness to raise the issue publicly and directly with Putin was seen as significant. Kazakhstan has walked a careful line during the war, refusing to openly support the invasion while maintaining close economic and security ties with Russia.

The nature of this conflict is not entirely clear to us, Tokayev said, underscoring Astana's reluctance to fully align with either side.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responded coolly, reiterating Kyiv's longstanding position that any ceasefire must be accompanied by a full Russian withdrawal from occupied Ukrainian territories. Peace negotiations remain stalled as fighting continues across the front line.