Kazakhstan's Tokayev urges Putin to freeze Ukraine war
What's new: Tokayev pushed a return to the 2022 Istanbul framework in a rare public appeal made beside Putin in Omsk.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine and revive negotiations, making the appeal while seated next to him at a forum in Omsk on July 25. Tokayev said the fighting should be brought to an end because young people were dying, and he pointed to the 2022 Istanbul talks as a basis for restarting diplomacy. Kazakhstan remains a Russian ally but has not backed Moscow's 2022 offensive, making the direct appeal unusual. Putin replied that he would brief Tokayev on the war during their meeting. Efforts to end the conflict have stalled, and Putin has repeatedly indicated Moscow still aims to take more territory in eastern Ukraine.