You're reading: Poroshenko asks Nazarbayev to continue mediating efforts in settling Donbas crisis

ASTANA - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have exchanged opinions on the current situation in southeastern Ukraine, the Kazakh presidential press service reported.

“Petro Poroshenko strongly urged Nursultan Nazarbayev to continue his mediating activity in resolving the crisis,” the press service said.

The conversation was arranged at Ukraine’s initiative.

It was reported earlier with reference to the Ukrainian presidential website that Poroshenko and Nazarbayev had discussed more active trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The leaders agreed it was important to hold another meeting of a joint intergovernmental Ukrainian-Kazakh commission on economic cooperation in the fall.

Nazarbayev and Poroshenko also exchanged opinions on the implementation of agreements reached following the Ukrainian president’s visit to Kazakhstan in October 2015.

Poroshenko congratulated Nazarbayev on Kazakhstan’s election as a non-permanent UN Security Council member for 2017-2018. The two agreed to coordinate their positions in the organization.

The presidents also instructed the two countries’ foreign ministries to step up preparations for Nazarbayev’s state visit to Ukraine later in 2016.