Astana, Sep 16 (EFE).- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Monday at the beginning of his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that “Russia is invincible” and called for supporting the Sino-Brazilian peace plan for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

“The fact is that from a military point of view, Russia is invincible. Further escalation of the war will lead to irreparable consequences for all mankind, primarily for the countries directly involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Tokayev said in response to a question from the German chancellor.

The Kazakh leader believes that “there are still possibilities for achieving peace” and recommended studying peace initiatives put forward by several countries, agreeing on a cessation of hostilities and right after that addressing territorial issues.

“In our view, the Chinese and Brazilian peace plan deserves support. Leaders come and go, and peoples, even more so neighbors, should live in peace and concord,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky has already rejected the six-point joint plan presented by the Chinese and Brazilians, which he called “destructive,” among other things because it does not refer to Ukraine's territorial integrity or the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.

In turn, Tokayev recalled that Russia and Kazakhstan share the largest demilitarized land border in the world, and stressed that Astana feels “genuine sympathy” for the Ukrainian people.

“Between our countries there have never been any discrepancies. Our country's embassy is still functioning in Kyiv,” he said.

The German chancellor, who has from the beginning supported Kyiv in its war with Moscow, arrived in Kazakhstan to chair Tuesday the summit between Germany and the five Central Asian republics.

The regional summit in Astana will be attended by the leaders of the five Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The German leader intends to discuss with his colleagues the Ukrainian conflict and the sanctions adopted by the European Union against Russia, which is trying to circumvent them through Central Asian countries. EFE

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Astana (Kazakhstan), 16/09/2024.- A handout picture made available by the Kazakhstan President Press Service shows Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (R) shaking hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) during their meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, 16 September 2024. Olaf Scholz is on a three-day trip to Central Asia from 15 to 17 September, his first visit to the region as head of government, according to the German federal government. EFE/EPA/KAZAKHSTAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEHANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Astana (Kazakhstan), 16/09/2024.- A handout picture made available by the Kazakhstan President Press Service shows Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (C) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (2-L) attending an official welcoming ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan, 16 September 2024. Olaf Scholz is on a three-day trip to Central Asia from 15 to 17 September, his first visit to the region as head of government, according to the German federal government. EFE/EPA/KAZAKHSTAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEHANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Astana (Kazakhstan), 16/09/2024.- A handout picture made available by the Kazakhstan President Press Service shows Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (R) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) attending a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, 16 September 2024. Olaf Scholz is on a three-day trip to Central Asia from 15 to 17 September, his first visit to the region as head of government, according to the German federal government. EFE/EPA/KAZAKHSTAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEHANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES