US urges Mongolia to uphold UN principles

Spokesman for the US Department of State Matthew Miller has commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Mongolia, urging countries not to give him opportunities to advance the war.

 Miller made this statement during a briefing, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"We expect Mongolia to adhere to its commitments and uphold the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to convey to the world that these principles must be respected globally," he said.

At the same time, Miller expressed understanding of Mongolia's position, caught between two significant neighbours. 

"We fully recognise the challenging situation Mongolia faces, as a much smaller country situated between two bigger neighbours. We intend to continue supporting Mongolia, but we believe it is crucial that it upholds its international obligations. It is also important that, in any interactions with Russia, Mongolia clearly communicates its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Miller added.

Putin's visit to Mongolia on September 3 marked his first trip to a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued an arrest warrant in March 2023 for his involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children. Media reports earlier suggested that Mongolian authorities assured Putin that he would not be arrested during his visit. This decision has been attributed to Mongolia's energy dependence on Russia. The European Union expressed regret over Mongolia's decision to host Russian President Vladimir Putin, disregarding the ICC's arrest warrant against him.