Ukraine on Sunday welcomed Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to freeze the war with Russia and resume peace negotiations, describing the suggestion as a realistic step towards ending the conflict.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Tokayev’s remarks reflected a practical approach to diplomacy.
“We appreciate President Tokayev telling Putin it is time to stop the war. A realistic, timely, and wise message,” Sybiha wrote on X.
He said Kyiv had proposed halting hostilities along the current front lines and returning to diplomatic negotiations, but claimed that Moscow continued to reject that approach.
“Putin’s spokesman has already dismissed the Kazakh President’s proposal as well,” Sybiha said. “The bottom line: Moscow must feel more pressure before it accepts realistic peace proposals.”
Tokayev made the proposal during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian city of Omsk on Saturday.
“Perhaps this conflict should be frozen, and we should return to the ‘Istanbul Formula 2.0,’ since significant results were achieved there. Then, naturally, under guarantees from the major powers, including Russia, we can move toward the long-awaited peace,” Tokayev said.
Later on Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the proposal, saying a freeze in the conflict was “impossible” because of Kyiv’s current position.