ISTANBUL

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed his country’s position on the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the need for diplomacy to achieve peace.

Speaking at the City of Working Professions festival, Tokayev underscored Kazakhstan’s long-standing position in favor of peace and dialogue between the warring parties, said a statement by the Kazakh presidential press service Akorda.

“From the very beginning, we have called for an end to the war and for reaching an agreement through diplomatic negotiations,” he was quoted as saying. 

This came after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, focused on the Ukraine war.

Trump on Wednesday said he had a "lengthy and highly productive" conversation with Putin, and that their delegations agreed to “start negotiations immediately” to end the nearly three-year Ukraine war. 

Tokayev welcomed recent political dialogue between major powers involved in the conflict, describing it as a positive development that would also benefit Kazakhstan.

He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to stability, highlighting the country’s policy of “unity in diversity” and urging citizens to embrace national cohesion.

Trump also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

The US president later told reporters that he and Putin could soon meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks.