Kazakhstan has urged Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi made the comment in an interview with NHK on Saturday. He said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been speaking in favor of negotiations between each country's president.

Tileuberdi is visiting Tokyo for talks with counterparts from Japan and four other Central Asian nations.

He said the sanctions against Russia have had an adverse impact on the neighboring Kazakh economy.

Tileuberdi said Kazakhstan wants to develop reciprocal relationships with its neighbors and with Japan, the United States, the European Union, and other major countries.