Kazakh president urges Putin to freeze Ukraine conflict and revive peace talks

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, proposing a freeze in active hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations.

Speaking on the conflict, Tokayev suggested that it may be time to halt fighting and revisit the framework of the Istanbul peace discussions in an updated form. Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations initially took place in Istanbul, Turkey, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Subsequent negotiations were resumed in 2025, though neither round succeeded in stopping the war.

Tokayev’s public appeal highlights persistent diplomatic concerns among neighboring Central Asian states as the regional economic and security consequences of the conflict endure.

Sources: Rzeczpospolita