Russia and Ukraine have an opportunity to reach an agreement. One needs to study all the proposed peace initiatives, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes. Escalation will be a threat to the entire world, and "neighboring nations must live in peace," he said.
Russia is militarily invincible, and further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine may lead to irreparable consequences for all of humanity, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Astana, zakon.kz writes.
"The fact is that Russia is militarily invincible. Further escalation of the war will lead to irreparable consequences for all of humanity and, above all, for all countries that are directly involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict," Tokayev said.
The chance to achieve "at least a truce" was missed at the Istanbul talks in 2022, but the opportunity to achieve peace still exists, he noted.
Tokayev called for a careful consideration of all peace initiatives from different countries "to come to a decision to stop the hostilities, and then move on to discussing territorial issues."
"In our opinion, the peace plan of China and Brazil deserves support. Heads of state come and go, but peoples, especially neighboring peoples, should live in peace and understanding," Tokayev said.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that his country has the longest land border with Russia, and the two countries develop strategic partnership and alliance.
"In Kazakhstan, we share genuine sympathy for the Ukrainian people, their unique culture. There have never been disagreements between our countries," Tokayev said.
China presented its plan for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine back in February 2023:
Brazil also put forward a peace initiative. The country's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in particular, offered mediation in resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Kyiv announced that it was up to Ukraine to determine the terms of peace. President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan is the only basis for peace, the Ukrainian administration believes. The plan provides for the return of Ukraine's 1991 borders. Moscow remains strongly opposed to Zelensky's terms.
Tokayev's remarks came amid discussions in the West about an opportunity to lift restrictions for Ukraine to use long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia. This includes Ukraine's use of British and American Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles.
Russian President Putin stated that the use of Western long-range weapons to strike Russia "would mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries are fighting Russia.”