During high-level talks in Omsk on July 25, 2026, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine and return to previous negotiation frameworks, citing repeated diplomatic signals from the United States and Europe.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for an immediate halt to hostilities during the XXII Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, held on July 25, 2026, in Omsk. Before the plenary session, the two leaders held a private meeting to discuss bilateral projects and regional affairs. Their talks quickly turned toward the ongoing conflict, where the Kazakh leader publicly advocated for a diplomatic pause.
Tokayev’s Proposal to Freeze the Conflict and Revive Istanbul Frameworks
In remarks captured on video and published by the Kremlin press service, Tokayev argued that the human cost of the ongoing fighting has become too high. He suggested that both nations face a depletion of their shared cultural and demographic foundation.
This is just my humble opinion, as long as I am approached. Maybe this conflict should already be frozen and we should return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0, since significant results were achieved there. Naturally, under the guarantees of the great powers, including Russia, and move further towards long-awaited peace. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan
Tokayev noted that he has received numerous signals from the United States and Europe regarding the diplomatic deadlock between Moscow and Kyiv, information he said he shared directly with Putin. Furthermore, Tokayev remarked that Putin had demonstrated maximum diplomatic flexibility during past negotiations with the United States on Alaska.
It’s a pity, young people are dying. This is the gene pool of fraternal peoples – Russia and Ukraine. All this must be stopped, because what is happening is to the advantage and joy of the opponents of Russia and the Ukrainian state. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan
The Kremlin Response and Conditions for Ending Hostilities
Putin responded by telling Tokayev that he would provide a detailed briefing on the situation concerning the Ukrainian direction. Hours later, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov elaborated on Moscow’s official stance regarding any potential pause in fighting.
Peskov stated that Putin had provided Tokayev with a thorough account of the special military operation. However, the Kremlin spokesman poured cold water on the prospect of an immediate ceasefire, arguing that the position of the government in Kyiv makes such a step unrealistic under current terms.
For us there is a main condition — we must achieve our goals. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Press Secretary
Peskov added that the prerequisites for halting military action were laid out by Putin two years ago, describing those terms as consistent and straightforward. According to the Kremlin, the conflict could stop within a single day if the leadership in Kyiv accepts those specified conditions.
Bilateral Ties and Economic Cooperation Ahead of the Forum
The high-level diplomatic exchange in Omsk builds upon a robust economic partnership between Moscow and Astana. Earlier in the year, during a phone conversation on June 30, the two leaders reviewed joint projects across the economic and energy sectors, following a state visit by Putin to Kazakhstan in May 2026.
During that May visit, Tokayev praised bilateral ties as having reached an unprecedented level. To solidify this cooperation, the neighboring states formed a pipeline of 177 joint investment projects with an estimated total value of about $53 billion, underscoring the deep economic integration that continues alongside their divergent diplomatic perspectives on regional security.
