Astana: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sunday confirmed his country's 'unconditional' interest in establishing a lasting peace in Ukraine during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Anadolu Agency, a Telegram statement by the Kazakh presidential press service Akorda noted that Tokayev emphasized the Kazakh people's respect for 'the Ukrainian people, their history, culture, and language,' reaffirming Kazakhstan's commitment to a lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of international law.
The statement highlighted Tokayev's perspective on resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict in a 'balanced and rational manner, ensuring the preservation and protection of Ukrainian statehood.' He invoked the ancient wisdom: 'A bad peace is better than a good quarrel,' acknowledging the complexity of the 'territorial problem,' which he described as a significant challenge in international relations.
Tokayev stressed the main priority as the preservation of Ukrainian statehood with unshakable international guarantees for Ukraine's security. The statement also indicated Kazakhstan's intention to maintain active cooperation with Ukraine in areas of mutual interest.
Zelenskyy, in a later statement on X, described his phone call with Tokayev as 'good and substantive,' expressing gratitude for Kazakhstan's support of the Ukrainian people, as well as their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He emphasized the dangers of viewing independent states as mere territories for partition and referenced historical injustices.
In related developments, US President Donald Trump suggested a potential 'some swapping of territories' between Russia and Ukraine as a possible ceasefire solution. This comes as both Moscow and Washington confirmed a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska set for Aug. 15.
Zelenskyy responded in a video address, underscoring that the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in Ukraine's Constitution, and Ukrainians will not surrender their land.