Tokayev on the peace formula
At a CSTO summit held on November 23, Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered a thoughtful take on how the peace process in Ukraine could move forward. He emphasized that the ties between Russian and Ukrainian peoples should not be severed by long-standing, unresolved grievances. The speech underscored a belief in dialogue as a path to stability and stressed that generations should not be divided by conflict or fear. Tokayev argued that a meaningful peace formula can emerge only through persistent diplomacy and a willingness to explore every avenue for a ceasefire. He reminded attendees that the spring talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Turkey showed potential for resolving differences, yet the agreement ultimately faltered due to a range of complicating factors. In his view, the broader international landscape is increasingly turbulent, and this volatility also affects CSTO members. He urged the bloc to pursue open, constructive dialogue as a proven mechanism for deescalation and crisis management. He also singled out the need to normalize relations among neighbors in the South Caucasus. The Kazakh leader expressed optimism that Russia’s peacekeeping role could help steer Armenia and Azerbaijan toward a political settlement, with a formal peace accord serving as a lasting outcome for all involved parties.
Tokayev highlighted that the driving interest across the region is a stable, predictable future. He called for a focused effort to revive diplomatic channels and to restore trust between states that have endured decades of contention. The message from Kazakhstan’s president was clear: diplomacy must take priority, and silence or delay only deepens the risk of new rounds of confrontation. The summit was framed as a platform to consolidate support for peaceful, rule-based solutions that respect the sovereignty and security concerns of each nation. Marked support was given to pursuing negotiations that lead to verifiable ceasefires, verified disengagements, and stepwise confidence-building measures that can endure beyond temporary pauses. The dialogue, Tokayev suggested, should be anchored in international law and reinforced by credible guarantees, so that all sides can move toward a durable arrangement that reduces the odds of renewed fighting. This stance reflects Kazakhstan’s ongoing commitment to nonproliferation, humanitarian protection, and regional stability, even as the region copes with every new development and challenge. The remarks also pointed to the broader goal of strengthening multilateral cooperation inside the CSTO framework, with an eye toward practical cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated responses to crises. In closing, the president urged allies to keep faith with peaceful dispute resolution and to translate rhetoric into concrete steps that bring about measurable progress for the Armenian-Azerbaijani, and broader regional, peace processes.
In parallel, Kazakh officials stressed that the evolving geopolitics require steady leadership and a shared vision for security that transcends national boundaries. The message underscored that collective security arrangements are most effective when they rest on transparent diplomacy, mutual respect, and a commitment to upholding international norms. The emphasis on dialogue was presented as a practical antidote to volatility, with a focus on stabilizing borders, ensuring humanitarian access, and promoting dialogue as a routine practice rather than a last resort. The overall takeaway is a call for patient, principled engagement that keeps open the possibility of negotiated settlements, even in the most challenging circumstances, and for leaders to maintain unity around peaceful solutions for long-standing regional conflicts. [citation: official CSTO summit communique]
Lukashenka on the feasibility of CSTO
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko commented on the shifting expectations surrounding the CSTO’s future, noting that public discourse increasingly links the bloc’s fate to the outcomes of the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. He warned that a decisive victory for Russia would secure the CSTO’s relevance, while a defeat could jeopardize its very existence. Lukashenko cautioned that a wave of heated debate has touched many countries, and he warned against premature conclusions about the bloc’s survivability.
When asked about what happens if Russia experiences serious setbacks, Lukashenko said that the resulting consequences would reverberate through all CSTO partners. He recalled the recent exchanges that began at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand and continued at the Commonwealth of Independent States gathering in Astana, framing them as a continuation of a broader dialogue about security, cooperation, and strategic interests. He urged a thorough and inclusive discussion of military-political cooperation to ensure security within the CSTO’s borders and operations. He noted growing interest in the organization as countries seek more reliable partnerships and clearer structures for collective defense and crisis management.
Lukashenko argued that the world is moving away from a unipolar order, making it essential for regional blocs to adapt. He touched on nuclear deterrence rhetoric observed among some Western actors, describing it as dangerous and destabilizing. He applauded the level-headed approach of many Western leaders who see the risks involved in nuclear posturing, particularly when it involves unpredictable partners. He asserted that nuclear blackmail has no place in contemporary diplomacy. The Belarusian president also drew a parallel between Ukraine’s crisis and a hurricane drawing more nations into its orbit, creating new problems and complicating peace efforts. He emphasized the urgent need for negotiations while questioning whether Ukraine will be granted a seat at the negotiating table in the near term.
Putin on common history
Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke about unity within the CSTO despite ongoing disagreements, stressing a shared commitment to preserving a common historical memory. He asserted that all member states remain joined in honoring their collective past, especially the shared victory in the Great Patriotic War, and he described this common history as a steady foundation for collaboration. Putin indicated that information on Ukraine would be shared with other leaders, but suggested that a private discussion could take place without cameras to examine sensitive aspects of the situation.
Putin also endorsed the progress toward resolving Armenia and Azerbaijan’s differences through peaceful means. He pointed to the Sochi talks as providing a solid basis for future compromises on core principles. He underscored the importance of reaffirming commitments to the high-level tripartite agreements reached in 2020 and 2021 within a joint framework, and he stressed that practical steps are needed to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku. These steps include ensuring the demilitarization along borders, reconfiguring transport routes to ease humanitarian and economic flows, and addressing humanitarian concerns crucial to sustaining a durable peace. He concluded that consistent follow-through on these tasks is essential to reduce tensions and stabilize the regional security environment.