Putin meets Mongolian president under cloud of war crimes accusations

Russia- Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Mongolian counterpart in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest last year. Putin was welcomed by an honour guard as he landed in the capital the night before to begin the high-profile trip, seen as a show of defiance against the court, Kyiv, the West and rights groups that have all called for him to be detained. He then met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at Ulaanbaatar's imposing Genghis Khan Square, also known as Sukhbaatar Square.

The Russian leader is wanted by the Hague-based ICC for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since his troops invaded the country in 2022. Ukraine has reacted to the trip with fury, accusing Mongolia of "sharing responsibility" for Putin's "war crimes" after authorities did not detain him at the airport. Kyiv had urged Mongolia to execute the arrest warrant, while the ICC said last week all its members had an "obligation" to detain those sought by the court. In practice, there is little that can be done if Ulaanbaatar does not comply. A vibrant democracy situated between authoritarian giants Russia and China, Mongolia enjoys close cultural links to Moscow as well as a critical trading relationship with Beijing. It was under Moscow's sway during the Soviet era. Since the Soviet collapse in 1991, it has sought to keep friendly relations with both the Kremlin and Beijing. The country has not condemned Russia's offensive in Ukraine and has abstained during votes on the conflict at the United Nations. The Kremlin said last week it was not concerned that Putin would be arrested during the visit.

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