Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “outstanding statesman” and “the most acceptable political figure” for Central Asia, Europe and the world during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on September 29.
The comments came during Tokayev’s official visit to Germany, where he met Merz at the Chancellery for talks on bilateral relations, energy, trade and international affairs. The two leaders also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Merz reiterating Germany’s support for Kyiv and its call for Moscow to enter serious peace negotiations.
During the press conference, a German public broadcaster ARD journalist asked Merz whether he would speak with Putin at the G20 summit in Miami, Florida, on December 14-15 and, if so, under what conditions. The question was then put to Tokayev, who was asked about his proposal, made on July 25 in Omsk, western Russia, in Putin’s presence, to “freeze” the conflict and about what he would say now “with regard to Russia”.
That proposal was delivered at the Kazakh-Russian forum of interregional cooperation, where Tokayev urged Putin to halt the fighting and return to what he called the “Istanbul formula 2.0”, a reference to the failed talks of 2022. He said then that a prolonged war served only the enemies of both Russia and Ukraine, and he declined to act as a mediator.
Tokayev responded by praising his relationship with the Russian president. “I am very grateful to President Putin for understanding my personal position,” he said. “I have very good contact with President Putin. I consider him an outstanding statesman.”
Tokayev then went further, saying: “I have also said today with conviction that I consider President Putin as a statesman to be a suitable political figure. Perhaps this sounds somewhat strange to you, but in my opinion this applies both to Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, as well as to Europe and the whole world.”
The Kazakh president said he knew Putin “very well” and that the Russian leader had “the necessary character traits” to serve as head of a large country with a complex history and its own understanding of its strategic objectives.
Tokayev nevertheless reiterated Kazakhstan’s support for the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of states. He said an immediate end to the war was “unrealistic” under current circumstances and instead advocated “freezing the fighting” in Ukraine before moving towards diplomacy and negotiations.
He pointed to his country’s position as the reason for its caution. Kazakhstan shares a 7,597km land border with Russia, the second-longest between any two states, and is home to some 2.7 million ethnic Russians.
Astana has not recognised Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and has said it will not allow its territory to be used to circumvent Western sanctions, though it has not joined those sanctions either.
Merz responded immediately after Tokayev, stressing that the two had discussed the war “very extensively” and that he had made Germany’s position “very clear”.
“From the very beginning, we have stood on the side of Ukraine and continue to do so without any reduction,” Merz said. Germany, he added, would continue supporting Ukraine “not only militarily, but also politically, financially and economically”.
The chancellor also said that Russia should come to the negotiating table for “serious talks” and warned that, if Moscow remained unwilling to negotiate, Germany and its partners were prepared to support Ukraine “for a long time”. “Russia will not win this war,” Merz said.
