Kazakh President Urges Putin to Freeze Ukraine War as Drones Hit Oil Exports

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly urged Vladimir Putin to freeze the conflict in Ukraine and revive the 'Istanbul formula 2.0' peace talks, a proposal that Ukraine welcomed but the Kremlin rejected.

The proposal

Speaking at a Russia-Kazakhstan forum in Omsk, Tokayev said, 'Perhaps it is time to freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul formula 2.0' Source: Moscow Times. He praised Putin's 'diplomatic flexibility' Source: Al Jazeera and suggested that 'great powers, including Russia' could provide security guarantees Source: Moscow Times.

Reactions

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded positively: 'We appreciate President Tokayev telling Putin it is time to stop the war' Source: Euronews. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea, stating that 'freezing the conflict as such is impossible, given Kyiv's position' Source: Moscow Times. Putin reiterated conditions including Ukrainian withdrawal from claimed regions and dropping NATO ambitions Source: Moscow Times.

Oil exports at risk

Tokayev's comments coincided with a disruption to Kazakhstan's oil exports. Drone attacks, blamed on Ukraine, damaged the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal at Novorossiysk, forcing a suspension Source: Al Jazeera. Kazakhstan called the attacks 'an unacceptable encroachment' on its economic interests Source: Al Jazeera. Ukraine's ambassador denied proof of Ukrainian involvement Source: Al Jazeera. With 80% of its oil exports flowing through the CPC, Kazakhstan faces significant economic risk Source: Al Jazeera.