Tokaev discusses the Ukraine war with Putin
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev articulated his views on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine during a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He remarked that he chose to share his “humble opinion” that day, acknowledging that his visit to Russia and the meeting were well-known, and that people had allegedly asked him to convey their sentiments regarding the situation.
While Tokaev did not specify who these individuals were, he previously mentioned engaging with representatives from Europe and the United States. He urged Putin to consider “freezing” the war and returning to the “Istanbul Formula 2.0” for discussions.
Tokaev stressed that there is uncertainty surrounding how to resolve the conflict due to the differing positions of the involved parties. He reiterated the necessity of halting military actions in Ukraine.
He stated, “On the other hand, there is an option to freeze the situation, which is a well-tested approach in international practice. It is tragic that young people are dying, which affects the gene pool of the brotherly nations of Russia and Ukraine. This must be stopped because, in my opinion, what is happening benefits the enemies of both Russia and Ukraine,” he noted, without specifying who these adversaries are.
A fragment of the meeting was shared via a Telegram channel called “Smotri.”
Context
- In September of last year, Tokaev expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to host high-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, following comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about a potential meeting with Putin in Kazakhstan. However, he clarified that Kazakhstan would not act as a mediator.
- Previously, he referred to Putin as a “God-given neighbor” for Kazakhstan. In November, both countries signed a declaration on comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance.
