Vladimir Putin has been left humiliated after a key ally urged him to “freeze” the Ukraine war. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, president of Kazakhstan, made the bombshell statement during a conversation with the Russian president in Omsk, Russia, and said he had received “many signals” from Europe and the USA.
Putin launched the war in 2022, dubbing it a “special military operation”, carrying out strikes on Ukrainian capital Kyiv and a ground invasion. Exact figures have not been verified but CNN reports that the war has resulted in 450,000 Russian deaths and 1.4million casualties – about 1% of the county’s entire population.
Meanwhile Ukraine has suffered between 525,000 and 625,000 casualties, including between 125,000 and 150,000 deaths.
Mr Tokayev told Putin: “Perhaps it is time to freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul 2.0 formula, as significant results were achieved there.
“After that – naturally under guarantees from major powers, including Russia – we can move forward. I will not hide that I have been receiving many signals, which I informed you about over the phone.
“Signals from Europe and the US about the current state of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It’s a pity, young people are dying, this is about the gene pool of the brotherly peoples, Russia and Ukraine.
“All of this needs to be stopped because what is happening, in my firm view, benefits and pleases the adversaries of both Russia and Ukraine.”
Putin said he would keep Tokayev informed about “developments on the Ukrainian front”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is due to meet Trump in the White House next week, told US political commentator Laura Loomer: “If tomorrow we can stop the war to make a ceasefire, it’s better than to fight 10-20 years for victory and lose your people.”