Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Saturday for Russia and Ukraine to freeze the conflict and return to peace talks, saying a negotiated settlement remained possible despite the entrenched positions of both sides.
Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russia-Kazakhstan forum in the Siberian city of Omsk, Tokayev said it was time to revive what he called the "Istanbul formula 2.0" after being asked for his views on the war.
"Perhaps it is time to freeze this conflict and return to the 'Istanbul formula 2.0'," Tokayev said, adding that fresh negotiations, backed by security guarantees from major powers including Russia, could help pave the way towards "a long-awaited peace".
He said the continued loss of young lives on both sides made ending the fighting increasingly urgent.
Russia and Ukraine held talks in Istanbul in the early weeks of Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022 and met there again in 2025, but neither round produced a breakthrough.
Putin did not respond publicly to Tokayev's proposal during the meeting, saying only that he would discuss Ukraine in greater detail during their private talks.
Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had briefed Tokayev on Russia's military campaign and reiterated Moscow's position that the conflict could not simply be frozen under the current circumstances.
According to Peskov, Putin said military action could stop if Kyiv took what Russia considers the necessary decisions.
Putin said last month that Russia's conditions for a peace settlement remained unchanged, including Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions Moscow claims as its own and abandoning its bid to join NATO.
Kyiv has repeatedly rejected those demands, saying any peace agreement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, as Iran reiterated that it will neither enter into new negotiations with the United States nor re-open the Strait as long as its conditions are not met, despite recent indirect talks in New York mediated by Qatar.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
The 81st UN General Assembly has wrapped up its third day in New York on Thursday, with world leaders delivering high-level speeches and holding diplomatic meetings.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will hold an urgent high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The meeting comes as Tehran seeks to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for a four-day visit focused on artificial intelligence, the future of Europe, peace and the Catholic Church's response to its abuse crisis.
Ukrainian soldier’s daughter asks when he is coming home as war keeps families apart.
Finland and Sweden deployed fighter aircraft on Thursday after a group of Russian military planes was detected over the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Air Force reported on Friday (25 September).
The Middle East arrived at the United Nations this week with the consequences of a war that is no longer contained to one front. From Israel and Iran to Syria and Yemen, leaders have used the General Assembly to set out competing positions on the situation in the region.
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