Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry calls for assistance to Russian-Ukrainian talks

BISHKEK. March 2 (Interfax) - It is necessary to prevent new countries from being involved in the conflict in Ukraine, Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry press secretary Nurlan Suyerkulov said on Wednesday.

"All of us should do everything possible today to ensure the success of the talks and improve relations not only between Ukraine and Russia, but also in a broader format, [result in] true mutual understanding, peace and development. Further casualties and destruction need to be prevented. The involvement of new countries and actors in the conflict needs to be prevented," Nurlan Suyerkulov said in an interview with Kyrgyzstan's Kabar News Agency.

The Kyrgyz side is for the peaceful settlement of the conflict "solely with political and diplomatic methods in accordance with the universally recognized principles and norms of international law," he said.

"We welcome the start of the talks. If certain peacekeeping mechanisms have stopped working, we should jointly find new formats for effective dialogue," the Kyrgyz diplomat said.

The Foreign Ministry press secretary also commented on the situation surrounding the revocation by the Ukrainian president of his ambassador from Kyrgyzstan.

"Recalling an ambassador for consultations is a sovereign right of any state. The people of Ukraine and the country's administration are having a difficult time, difficult decisions are being made, and therefore we have no intention of starting a polemic. It would be inappropriate now," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his televised address on Tuesday he was recalling the Ukrainian ambassador in Bishkek for consultations.