Tokayev Proposes 'Istanbul Formula 2.0' to Putin for Ukraine Solution

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the conflict in Ukraine and return to the 'Istanbul formula 2.0'. Tokayev stated that 'Young people are dying, this is the gene pool of the brotherly peoples of Russia and Ukraine, all this must be stopped'. He decided to share his modest view in line with the signals from the West.Tokayev expressed his reluctance to take on the role of mediator, saying 'Russia is a great country, the Russians are a great people, and they can handle it themselves without a mediator'. Emphasizing Astana's continued commitment to its strategic and allied relations with Russia, Tokayev also noted that Putin showed maximum diplomatic flexibility during their meeting in Alaska.