Tue Sep 17 04:50:07 UTC 2024: ## Kazakhstan Urges Germany to Back China’s Peace Plan, Scholz Rejects Call
**Astana, Kazakhstan** – During a visit to Kazakhstan on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faced a call from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to abandon the idea of militarily defeating Russia and instead support China’s peace plan for Ukraine. Scholz, however, rejected this proposal.
Tokayev argued that a military victory over Russia was impossible and that further escalation of the conflict would have dire consequences for the world. He urged Germany, a key Western player in supporting Ukraine, to endorse China’s 12-point peace plan, which aims to end the war without specifying concrete steps.
Scholz, however, maintained that Germany was supporting Ukraine because it was invaded by Russia. He emphasized the need for Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and stressed that a Western-backed peace conference in Switzerland must be followed up with one that includes Russia. He asserted that Russia, responsible for initiating and continuing the war, could end it by halting its aggression.
Despite its close ties with Russia, Kazakhstan has officially maintained neutrality in the conflict and has not recognized Russia’s annexations of Ukrainian territories. The country has also refrained from imposing sanctions on Russia and continues to trade with it and other countries under normal legal circumstances.
China’s peace plan, while supported by Russia, has been met with skepticism by NATO and the West. While Scholz declined to endorse it, his visit to Kazakhstan highlights the growing pressure on Western nations to explore alternative approaches to ending the conflict.
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