MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Friday said it was not absolutely worried that Mongolia, member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) could arrest President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country next week as the international court has issued a warrant for the Russian leader.
Putin will embark on a visit to Mongolia on Tuesday, a first trip to an ICC member since The Hague-based court issued his warrant over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children in March 2023.
“There are no worries, we have a great dialogue with our friends from Mongolia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
When asked if Moscow had talked about the arrest warrant with Ulaanbaatar ahead of Putin’s trip, he said: “All aspects of the visit were carefully prepared.” Ukraine on Friday has asked Mongolia to arrest Putin when he visits the country.
Kyiv’s foreign ministry stated that it hopes that the government of Mongolia is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.
The ministry in a statement called on the Mongolian authorities to execute the binding international arrest warrant and move Putin to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Mongolia became a signatory of the Rome Treaty of the international court in December 2000. Under the treaty the ICC members are expected to make the arrest if the Russian leader arrives on their territory
The Kremlin said Putin will travel to Mongolia on September 3 on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japanese militarists on the Khalkhin Gol River.
The war took place in 1939 during the Japanese occupation of nearby Manchuria. Earlier the Kremlin said Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh will discuss bilateral ties and exchange views on current global and regional issues.
