Putin's visit to Mongolia: offers of cheap gas amid international calls for arrest
Vladimir Putin held talks with Mongolia's leadership despite calls from Ukraine and Amnesty International to arrest him under an International Criminal Court warrant.
Photo: kremlin.ru
Today, Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on an official trip. During the visit, Putin held talks with Mongolia's President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, and Chairman of Parliament Dashzegviin Amarbaysgalan.
The main topics of discussion were the expansion of cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, energy, and transportation.
After the talks, the leaders laid flowers at the monument to Marshal Zhukov and visited the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics branch in Ulaanbaatar.
Russia is considering the possibility of supplying gas to Mongolia at a preferential price if the "Power of Siberia-2" pipeline project is implemented, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the Mongolian newspaper "Önöödör," as reported in the published interview on the Kremlin's website.
Additionally, preparations are underway for an agreement on the supply of petroleum products at a discount to meet Mongolia's growing fuel needs.
Putin spoke about the long-standing cooperation with Mongolia and the priority of developing partnership relations between the countries within the framework of Russian foreign policy.
Earlier, Altantuya Batdorj, Executive Director of Amnesty International Mongolia, stated that the authorities of the country are obligated to arrest Vladimir Putin if he visits Mongolia on September 3.
This statement is related to the fact that Mongolia, as a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), must fulfill its international obligations under the arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Putin's war crimes.
Batdorj emphasized that harboring Putin would obstruct justice and reinforce his impunity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also called on Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement published on the website of the Ukrainian MFA, it is noted that Putin is a war criminal, accused by the International Criminal Court of illegally transferring Ukrainian children to Russia.
The Ukrainian side insists that Mongolia, recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICC, is obligated to execute the arrest warrant. The Ukrainian MFA also reminds of the numerous crimes committed by Putin and his entourage against Ukraine, including aggressive war and genocide.