Ulaanbataar. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on Tuesday amid ongoing international calls for his arrest on war crimes charges related to the Ukraine invasion.

This is Putin's first trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member country since the court issued a warrant for his arrest about 18 months ago.

Despite Ukraine's appeal for Mongolia to detain Putin and European Union concerns about the warrant not being executed, Mongolia has shown no indication of compliance. A spokesperson for Putin said last week that the Kremlin wasn't worried.

As a landlocked country reliant on Russian fuel and electricity, Mongolia faces a difficult decision, given the ICC’s lack of enforcement mechanisms.

The Russian leader was welcomed in a ceremony in the capital city's main square by an honor guard dressed in vivid red and blue uniforms styled on those of the personal guard of 13th century ruler Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.

He and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh walked up the red-carpeted steps of the Government Palace and bowed before a statue of Genghis Khan before entering the government building for their meetings.

The ICC has accused Putin of orchestrating the abductions of Ukrainian children amid ongoing conflict.

The EU has expressed worry that Mongolia might not uphold its obligations under the Rome Statute, which it has been a party to since 2002. More than 50 Russians abroad have called for Putin’s immediate detention, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, recently released from a Russian prison.

Putin’s visit coincides with the 85th anniversary of a Soviet-Mongolian victory over Japanese forces in 1939. This trip is part of Putin's broader efforts to counter international isolation, following recent visits to China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan.

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