Mongolia welcomes Putin, Ukraine advocates for repercussions
Ukraine is upset with Mongolia for not arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, as required by international law. Mongolia, being a part of the International Criminal Court, was obligated to detain Putin and extradite him to The Hague, according to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. By refraining from doing so, Mongolia is now seen as co-operating in Putin's alleged war crimes.
Mongolia's failure to comply with international law is seen as a significant setback for the global justice system. Ukraine, along with its allies, will ensure that Mongolia faces consequences for its actions. In Kyiv, Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tychyj stated that Mongolia has aided Putin in evading the justice system. "We will work with our partners to ensure that this has repercussions for Ulaanbaatar," Tychyj said.
Putin visited Mongolia on Monday for discussions. He was welcomed at Ulaanbaatar Airport by a guard of honor. The purpose of his visit is to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the victory of Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japan. Putin will meet with Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Chürelsüh on Tuesday, who invited him to the country.
Strong Economic Ties
The neighbors have expressed their intention to boost their cooperation. This includes a new gas pipeline from Russia through Mongolia to China. Ukraine had previously urged Mongolia to detain Putin during his visit. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that they are not concerned about the situation. Russia has a good relationship with Mongolia and all aspects of the visit have been discussed beforehand.
The court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023, accusing him of being responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children and the forced relocation of Ukrainians to the Russian Federation. The Kremlin dismissed the accusations as politically motivated.
This is Putin's first visit to a country that is a member of the court in The Hague since the beginning of his invasion of Ukraine. Mongolia is trying to maintain a harmonious relationship with powerful neighbors China and Russia, as well as with the West. Mongolia is also reliant on Russian resources. With his trip, Putin also aims to demonstrate that he is not an international pariah despite the war.
Despite Ukraine's call for Mongolia to arrest Putin during his visit, as the President of the European Parliament, MEPs have expressed their disappointment over Mongolia's decision to not comply with international law. Recognizing the economic ties between Mongolia and Russia, the European Parliament may consider applying diplomatic pressure to ensure accountability for alleged war crimes.
