Monitoring Desk
ASTANA: Kazakhstan on Saturday expressed support for a Chinese initiative to resolve the Ukraine conflict, days ahead of a visit by the United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry welcomed China’s position “on the political solution of the Ukraine crisis.”
In a statement, the foreign ministry said the peace proposal “deserves support as contributing to the cessation of bloodshed.”
On Saturday, Kazakhstan, which shares a 7,500-kilometer (4,660 miles) border with Russia, also emphasized the importance of “territorial integrity” in the plan proposed by China.
Kazakhstan is part of several military and economic alliances with Russia; however, the country has refused to support the military invasion of Ukraine or recognize the Kremlin’s annexation of four Ukraine regions.
Kazakhstan abstains from voting on UN resolution against Russia
At the same time, Kazakhstan has abstained or voted against UN resolutions condemning the Russian invasion.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan next week before visiting India for a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, also due to be attended by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
China’s 12-point proposal calling for a “political settlement” of the crisis has been greeted with skepticism by Western leaders, but Russia and Ukraine have expressed cautious support.
Timed to coincide with the one year anniversary of Russia’s assault on Friday, the paper urges all parties to “support Ukraine and Russia in working in the same direction and resuming direct talks as quickly as possible.”
