Here's an update from RFE/RL's news desk on Nazarbaev's visit to Ukraine:
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, during a visit to Kyiv, has reportedly called on Russia and Ukraine to seek compromise in order to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine and preserve its territorial integrity.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that Nazarbaev spoke following talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on December 22.
"I am appealing to Russia and Ukraine to think about finding a compromise in order to get out of this conflict and preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity, because this situation is nonsense and should not be taking place," it quoted him as saying.
Nazarbaev's remark suggested he is concerned about the effects of the Ukraine crisis on Kazakhstan, which is a partner of Russia in trade and security groupings cultivated by President Vladimir Putin but is also pursuing close ties with the West.
Russia's ban on most Western food imports -- part of its response to EU and U.S. sanctions imposed to punish the Kremlin for its interference in Ukraine -- has led to trade disputes between Russia and Kazakhstan.
(Interfax)