Russian President Vladimir Putin was warmly received in Mongolia on Tuesday, defying international calls to arrest him on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes related to the Ukraine invasion.
This marks Putin’s first visit to an ICC member nation since the court issued the warrant in March 2023. Ukraine had urged Mongolia to detain him, and the EU expressed concern over Mongolia’s potential non-compliance.
The visit comes as Mongolia, economically dependent on Russia and China, faces pressure. An ICC warrant requires member countries to detain suspects, but Mongolia’s need to maintain relations with Russia has complicated the situation.
During his visit, Putin was greeted with a formal ceremony in Ulaanbaatar and discussed various agreements with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, including a power plant upgrade and enhanced rail links. Putin also invited Khurelsukh to a BRICS summit in October, which Khurelsukh accepted.
The visit has drawn mixed reactions. Critics, including some Russians abroad, have called for his detention, while others view the visit as a sign of weakening international isolation.
