Putin To Visit ICC-Signatory Country, But It Won't Arrest Him

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia, a country that is a signatory to the Rome Statue and has a legal obligation to arrest him due to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant issued in March 2023. The visit is at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, and the two leaders will discuss the development of the Russian-Mongolian comprehensive strategic partnership. Mongolia has remained neutral on the Ukraine war and has close regional ties with Russia, recently holding joint military exercises. Putin's visit to Mongolia will be the first by a Russian president to a country that is legally required to arrest him. In August 2023, Putin skipped an in-person BRICS summit in South Africa, a Rome Statue signatory, due to controversy and sent Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead. Putin has only traveled to countries closely aligned with Moscow since ordering forces into Ukraine over two years ago.