Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and US President Barack Obama discuss the situation in Ukraine

US President Barack Obama has had a telephone talk with President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to discuss the current situation in Ukraine, both reiterating their interest in a peaceful solution, Russia’s RIA Novosti reports, citing the US White House. “The two leaders reiterated their interest to finding a peaceful solution to the disagreements between Russia and Ukraine. They agreed it is important to respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the statement reads. Earlier Tengrinews.kz reported that Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev had had telephone talks with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine. In the talk with President Putin Mr. Nazarbayev said that “Kazakhstan as a strategic partner of Russia understands Russia’s stance on Ukraine, including Russia’s efforts to protect the rights of ethnic minorities in Ukraine and [the endeavors to protect] its security-related interests”. Kazakhstan’s President expressed hope that “all the interested parties will be checked and will take measures to normalize the situation within shortest possible time through negotiations”. In the talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Nazarbayev reiterated that the Ukrainian crisis should be settled through dialogue. According to him, instruments of international mediation should be employed “to ensure territorial integrity of the nation as well as to renounce reciprocal threats and ultimatums”.