Putin Visits Mongolia Despite International Court’s Arrest Order

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia on Monday, marking a significant visit to a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for him.

This visit is notable as it is the first by Putin to an ICC member state since the court issued the arrest warrant in March 2023.

Ukrainian officials are urging Mongolia to detain Putin and extradite him to the ICC. In response to concerns about the visit, a spokesperson for the Kremlin expressed that they were unconcerned.

Member countries of the ICC are obligated to detain individuals against whom there are arrest warrants, but there is no enforceable method to ensure compliance, according to reports from The Associated Press.

The ICC’s arrest warrant was issued over a year ago, stemming from allegations related to war crimes, including the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

This move was largely perceived as an attempt by the international community to hold Putin accountable for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022.

During his visit, Putin is set to meet with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Tuesday. Additionally, he will participate in a ceremony commemorating the 1939 victory of Soviet and Mongolian troops over the Japanese forces.

Mongolia relies heavily on both Russia and China for its resources, according to The AP.

In June, Putin had traveled to North Korea, where he expressed gratitude to leader Kim Jong Un for the support rendered during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He also discussed forming a new partnership aimed at countering U.S.-led sanctions.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Europe, Putin has also made visits to Vietnam and China.

Earlier on Monday, Russia carried out an extensive overnight strike involving drones and missiles aimed at Ukraine. This comes as Kyiv continues its offensive into the Russian-operated Kursk region.

Putin remarked that the operation in Kursk would not hinder his forces’ actions in eastern Ukraine, after relocating over 30,000 troops to reinforce that area. He further predicted that the mission would ultimately fail and suggested that Ukraine may seek to engage in peace talks as a result.

Source: The Associated Press