The Russian head of state plans to make an official visit to Mongolia on September 3. Peskov stressed that all aspects of the visit had been carefully planned.

We aren’t worried; we maintain a wonderful dialogue with our friends in Mongolia.

Dmitry Peskov

Putin’s last visit to Mongolia, commemorating the 80th anniversary in 2019, occurred in a vastly different world. At present, with Russia heavily engaged in Ukraine and facing international criticism, a visit would lead to significant consequences for both sides.

The Kremlin is not worried about Mongolia’s participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) because Moscow and Ulaanbaatar maintain a wonderful dialogue” Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on charges of the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children. On June 25, 2024, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber issued arrest warrants for Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.

For Mongolia, hosting Putin would be a public relations challenge, potentially damaging relations with Western partners, particularly the US, a key player in its “third neighbor” policy. This policy aims to reduce Ulaanbaatar’s reliance on its two powerful neighbors, a strategy increasingly vital as great power competition intensifies.

Putin, facing increasing international isolation, might see a visit to Mongolia as an opportunity to demonstrate that he still has friends on the world stage. For a leader who thrives on projecting an image of strength and defiance, the symbolism of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mongolia on the anniversary of a shared victory against a common enemy could hold undeniable appeal.

Foto: Putin’s visit in Mongolia in 2019