Ulaanbaatar, August 31- Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia next week, marking his first trip to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him. Ahead of this visit, Ukraine has called on Mongolia to arrest Putin in compliance with the ICC's directives.

The British media outlet BBC reports that this visit to an ICC member state by Putin is particularly notable because of the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the court in 2023, which accuses him of war crimes, including the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. In addition to Putin, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant against Maria Alekseevna Lova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Russian Presidential Office.

An ICC spokesperson acknowledged Mongolia's obligation to adhere to ICC rules, although they clarified that this does not necessarily mean the country is compelled to arrest Putin. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed confidence about the visit, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating, "Mongolia is our partner. We have excellent relations with them," suggesting no concerns over the potential legal ramifications of the visit.

Since Russia's military operation in Ukraine began in February 2022, the conflict has persisted for over two years, resulting in the ICC's move to issue the arrest warrant against Putin last year. A United Nations-backed investigation has accused Russia of committing widespread crimes against humanity in Ukraine, including the forced deportation of children.

Despite the arrest warrants, the ICC lacks the authority to enforce arrests, relying on member states to uphold its decisions. It remains to be seen how Mongolia will respond to Ukraine's call for action during Putin's visit.