Putin has expressed confidence about his upcoming visit to Mongolia on September 3, 2024, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
The ICC accuses Putin of being responsible for the abduction and deportation of children from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, which Moscow refers to as evacuations.
During a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the risk of arrest, stating, "We are not worried. We maintain a wonderful dialogue with our friends in Mongolia."
This visit marks Putin's first trip to an ICC member state since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Mongolia, an ICC member state, is technically obligated to honor the arrest warrant issued in March 2023. However, due to its economic dependence on Russia, it is considered unlikely that Mongolia would jeopardize its relations by detaining Putin.
The Kremlin emphasized that the visit aims to strengthen cooperation with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. Peskov confirmed that all aspects of the visit were meticulously prepared, including considerations related to the ICC warrant. "Of course, all aspects of the visit were meticulously prepared," he said, according to local media.
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