Astana (TDI): President of Kazakhstan, Qasym-Jomart Toqayev, has welcomed the call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Russia agreed to a 30-day cessation of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The direct talk between Trump and Putin was much-anticipated to determine the future direction of indirect negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Kazakh President has remained keen on a peace formula that ensures long-term peace in Eurasia.
He has also been a strong proponent of the peace plan proposed by China and Brazil last year at the BRICS Summit.
The plan was based on six points; non-escalation, direct negotiation, an international peace conference accepted by both Russia and Ukraine, humanitarian assistance, exchange of prisoners of war, and no attacks on civilians.
President @TokayevKZ has welcomed the outcomes of the phone call on #Ukraine between Presidents 🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin @KremlinRussia_E and 🇺🇸 Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump. He believes the leaders of the two countries have demonstrated their commitment to achieving a lasting #peace…
— Ruslan Zheldibay (@RuslanZheldibay) March 18, 2025
Soon after the Trump-Putin call, Russia and Ukraine engaged in aerial attacks, and as per claims made by Ukraine, its energy infrastructure has also been targeted in fresh attacks.
These claims have again put the negotiations in jeopardy, which are set to resume in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this Sunday.
US team led by its Special Envoy on Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is holding talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia’s capital city to decide terms of a ceasefire plan.
The last round of talks brought about an agreement on an immediate ceasefire across land, air, and sea.
In a direct call with Putin, Trump was supposed to bring the proposal before Putin but the Russian President did not agree to a comprehensive ceasefire and maintained that a compete ceasefire is possible only when Ukraine’s European allies cut off military assistance and intelligence sharing.
Read More: Final Russia-Ukraine Peace Agreement Under Discussion: Trump
However, he agreed on not targeting critical infrastructure, especially energy infrastructure.
But with multiple claims surfacing after the most-recent air attacks, it is difficult to establish if Russia is sticking to these terms.
About 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian bombs, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed last September.
In retaliation, Ukraine has also targeted Russia’s oil and gas facilities deep into its territory.
