U.S. State Department comments on Putin’s visit to Mongia

That’s according to State Department spokesman Matt Miller, who commented on the Russian president's visit to Mongia on Tuesday, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports.

"We don’t believe any country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression against Ukraine. We do expect Mongia to adhere to its commitment and its support for the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the spokesman for the State Department.

Read also: Mongia to face minor punitive measures for failure to comply with ICC decision to arrest Putin – lawyer

He emphasized that the United States insists on the observance of these principles throughout the world.

At the same time, Miller expressed his understanding of the situation in which Mongia itself found itself – "a much smaller country between two neighbors", Russia and China. In this context, the representative of the State Department assured that the United States will continue to support Mongia. However, according to Miller, it is important that this country comply with international obligations.

"And it is important that if they do communicate with Russia, that they make clear that they support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty," added the official.

Read also: Mongia explains why it failed to arrest Putin

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Putin arrived in Mongia on an official visit on September 2. It was his first trip to a country that had ratified the Rome Statute and was supposed to arrest the Russian leader on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

In March 2023, the ICC in The Hague handed down an arrest warrant for Putin on suspicion of illegal deportation of children and illegal removal of Ukrainians to Russia.