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The Astana Times (25 July 2026)

Aida Haidar

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin met ahead of the XXII Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum, focused on transport, logistics and regional economic ties, in Omsk on July 25. Their talks broadened the agenda beyond the forum’s economic focus to include the war in Ukraine, strategic partnership and cooperation on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant.

During the meeting, Tokayev outlined his position on prospects for resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He said that from the very beginning he saw it as an interstate conflict. He also noted that “the nature of this conflict is not fully understood by many, including ourselves.” While acknowledging that neither side currently has a clear path toward resolving the conflict, Tokayev suggested that freezing the conflict could create conditions for renewed negotiations.

“Perhaps it is time to freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0, because significant results were achieved there. Then, under guarantees from the great powers, including Russia, we could move toward the long-awaited peace,” he said.

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