Mongolia is dependent on energy, which is why it failed to execute an international arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin accused of war crimes in Ukraine.

This is what the spokesperson of the Mongolian government said in his comment for Politico, reports Ukrinform.

"Mongolia imports 95% of its oil products and over 20% of its electricity. This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people," the spokesman said.

He added that "Mongolia has always maintained a policy of neutrality in all its diplomatic relations, as shown in the statements so far."

The Mongolian government spokesman also added that Putin's visit is "in line with the historical precedent of heads of state jointly celebrating the anniversary of the victory by Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japan at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939."

As Ukrinform reported, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin met with his Mongolian counterpart on Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar. This is Putin's first visit to a country that has ratified the Rome Statute and will arrest the Russian leader on a warrant issued by the ICC in The Hague.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Putin accused of the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

The ICC stated that the country is obliged to comply with the Court's demands.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Mongolia for not arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin despite an ICC arrest warrant.