Astana, Sep 23 (EFE) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday urged renewed diplomatic efforts for peace in Ukraine during his first meeting in five years with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to a statement from the Kazakh presidency on Telegram, Tokayev “stressed that in this extremely complicated situation it is necessary to continue diplomatic work in order to find ways to end the conflict.”
The meeting was their first face-to-face encounter since September 2019, also in New York, when Zelensky had just taken office.
Peace and diplomacy at the center
This time, talks touched again on economic cooperation between the two former Soviet republics. The main focus, however, was the war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Zelensky, who is scheduled to meet Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, said Ukraine’s priority is to secure “a just and lasting peace” and “reliable security guarantees.”
“I thank Kazakhstan for its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zelensky said, highlighting the need for international solidarity as Kyiv faces mounting pressure on the battlefield.
Kazakhstan’s diplomacy
Kazakhstan shares a long border with Russia and has a sizeable Russian-speaking minority. Since the start of the conflict, Tokayev’s government has kept close ties with Moscow while refusing to endorse Russia’s invasion or recognize the annexation of Ukrainian territories.
That balancing act has allowed Astana to position itself as a potential mediator. The country previously hosted international talks on Syria and has presented its capital as a neutral venue for negotiations.
Tokayev’s remarks at the UN underline that tradition of mediation, emphasizing diplomacy and international law while safeguarding Kazakhstan’s stability in a tense regional environment.
The symbolic but significant meeting with Zelensky underscores Kazakhstan’s strategy of keeping communication open with all sides as the war enters its fourth year. EFE