Story perspectives

Kazakhstan Urges Putin to Freeze War, Restart Talks

7/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged President Vladimir Putin to freeze Ukraine war and restart talks under “Istanbul Formula 2.0” at Omsk meeting on July 25, 2026.
President Vladimir Putin highlighted ties, noting $27.8 billion in trade last year and $30 billion across 70 joint projects.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a ceasefire is to stop loss of life and that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump week after talks with U.S. officials.

History

Historical Context

In September 2014 the Trilateral Contact Group of Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE, together with France and Germany, signed the Minsk Protocol, calling for an OSCE-monitored ceasefire and foreign-force withdrawal. After its collapse, Minsk II on 12 February 2015 ordered a ceasefire, prisoner exchange, yet fighting around Debaltseve continued; with 36,000 Russian-backed troops in the Donbas, pact proved fragile and shows why multilateral framework must secure troop withdrawals.

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Story summary

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged President Vladimir Putin to freeze Ukraine war and restart talks under “Istanbul Formula 2.0” at Omsk meeting on July 25, 2026.
President Vladimir Putin highlighted ties, noting $27.8 billion in trade last year and $30 billion across 70 joint projects.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a ceasefire is to stop loss of life and that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump week after talks with U.S. officials.

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