Vladimir Putin Set For China Visit Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

Russian President Vladimir Putin is slated to embark on his inaugural overseas journey since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him over purported war crimes.

Bloomberg obtained the information from people familiar with the Kremlin’s plans who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the subject.

Putin To Visit China’s Belt And Road Forum

The Belt and Road Forum, scheduled for October in China, is the event Putin is expected to attend, following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Since the ICC’s warrant in March 2022, Putin has refrained from international travel, limiting his movements to Russian-controlled regions in Ukraine. Notably, he abstained from the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, given the nation’s commitment to the ICC’s arrest mandate.

Earlier speculations hinted at a potential meeting between Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in August. However, the tables have turned, with Erdogan now set to visit Sochi, Russia, for discussions with Putin.

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Russia-China Relations In Focus Amid Global Reactions

Putin’s travel choices following the Ukraine invasion have been cautious, with visits restricted to former Soviet Union territories and Iran, a key drone supplier to the Russian armed forces. His last trip to China was in February 2022, during the Winter Olympics in Beijing. This visit saw both nations emphasizing their unrestricted alliance.

Xi’s Moscow trip in March, his first after securing a rare third term, was marked by his aspiration for Putin’s China visit by year-end. Insiders suggest that Putin’s travel decisions hinge on robust security assurances, with China fitting the bill.

China’s diplomatic backing of Putin post the Ukraine invasion has been evident. However, its recent efforts to position itself as an impartial mediator in the conflict, especially with its 12-point peace plan for Ukraine, have garnered mixed reactions globally.

Amid these developments, Xi’s interactions with Russian dignitaries, including Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, underscore the strengthening ties between the two nations, especially within international forums like the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G-20, and the BRICS.

The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) rose 1.5% on Tuesday, surging over 7% compared to a week ago, as the second-largest economy in the world pledged to cut interest rates on mortgages and deposits.

Read more: Economic Stability In US-China Relations Is ‘What The World Expects From Us,’ Says Gina Raimondo

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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