Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the unity of former Soviet republics as an alliance sharing a common history.

Putin gave a speech on Wednesday at the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

The CSTO is a Russian-led military alliance of former Soviet states.

Putin said the CSTO members are firmly united by the common history of their victory in "the Great Patriotic War."

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for peace in Ukraine through negotiations.

He said he believes the time has come for a joint collective search for a peace formula in Ukraine. He added that any war ends with peace negotiations and any chance must be seized to achieve at least a truce.

Tokayev had already indicated his position of keeping a certain distance from Russia. He told Putin in June he would not recognize the declaration of independence by pro-Russian forces in two eastern Ukrainian regions.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, some CSTO member states have reportedly taken steps to distance themselves from Russia.

Putin's speech at the summit is seen as an attempt to consolidate ties among the CSTO countries, which he views as being under Russia's sphere of influence.

A military conflict occurred along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in September, reportedly leaving more than 200 people dead.

Putin met the leaders of the two countries last month in an apparent bid to show Russia's presence as a mediator.