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Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome in Mongolia on Tuesday during a state visit that sparked an international row due to Mongolian authorities failing to arrest the Russian leader, despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the South China Morning Post reported.

Mongolian President Khürelsükh Ukhnaa greeted his Russian counterpart in front of a row of ceremonial guardsmen on horseback.

Putin’s visit to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar came more than a year after the ICC issued a warrant for the Russian leader, accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine, specifically the unlawful deportation of hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Mongolia has been a member of the ICC since 2002. Under the court’s Rome Statute, members must arrest individuals with outstanding ICC warrants against them if the suspects enter their territory.

The country’s failure to act on its obligation drew the ire of international organizations, Ukraine, and the European Union. Ukrainian officials criticized the move as “a heavy blow to the International Criminal Court and the system of criminal law.”

ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah emphasized Mongolia’s obligation to comply with the arrest warrant, but acknowledged that the Netherlands-based institution cannot enforce its rules directly. The court could inform the Assembly of States Parties of Mongolia’s non-compliance, potentially leading to unspecified consequences, however, CNBC noted.

Analysts explained that it was highly unlikely that Mongolian authorities would detain Putin, describing his arrest as “suicidal.”

Mongolia, located between Russia and China, is economically dependent on these neighboring superpowers. During his visit, Putin and Khurelsukh discussed enhancing bilateral relations, focusing on trade, economic cooperation, and regional influence.

The leaders also talked about the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a major project intended to transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia’s Yamal region to China – which is crucial for Moscow’s strategy to compensate for the loss of gas sales to Europe due to the Ukraine conflict.

Observers added that the trip could also be interpreted as a deliberate challenge to the ICC’s authority: Before the visit, the Kremlin claimed it had “no worries” about Putin’s upcoming visit.

Meanwhile, Hungary and Armenia – both ICC members – have assured Putin that he would not be detained on their soil, further eroding the tribunal’s ability to enforce international law and reducing the likelihood of prosecuting suspected war criminals.