ULAANBAATAR — Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Mongolian counterpart in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest last year. Putin was welcomed by an honor guard as he landed in the Mongolian capital the night before to begin the high-profile trip, seen as a show of defiance against the court, Kyiv, the West and rights groups that have all called for him to be detained. He then met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at Ulaanbaatar's imposing Genghis Khan Square, also known as Sukhbaatar Square. A band blared out martial tunes, and the Russian and Mongolian national anthems as the two leaders stood in the square near Mongolian soldiers in traditional garb with some on horseback. The Russian leader is wanted by The Hague-based ICC for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since his troops invaded the country in 2022. Ukraine has reacted to the trip with fury, accusing Mongolia of "sharing responsibility" for Putin's "war crimes" after authorities did not detain him at the airport. Kyiv had urged Mongolia to execute the arrest warrant, while the ICC said last week all its members had an "obligation" to detain those sought by the court. In practice, there is little that can be done if Ulaanbaatar does not comply. A vibrant democracy situated between authoritarian giants Russia and China, Mongolia enjoys close cultural links to Moscow, as well as a critical trading relationship with Beijing. It was under Moscow's sway during the Soviet era. Since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, it has sought to keep friendly relations with both the Kremlin and Beijing. The country has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has abstained during votes on the conflict at the United Nations. The Kremlin said last week it was not concerned that Putin would be arrested during the visit. 'Get Putin out of here' Genghis Khan Square was decked out on Tuesday with huge Mongolian and Russian flags for Putin's first visit to the country in five years. A day earlier, a small protest had gathered there, with a handful of demonstrators holding a sign demanding "Get war criminal Putin out of here." Another protest planned for Tuesday was prevented by tight security from getting anywhere near the Russian leader. They instead gathered around a block from the Monument for the Politically Repressed, which honors those who suffered under Mongolia's decadeslong Soviet-backed communist regime. Putin's visit is being held to mark the 85th anniversary of a decisive victory against Imperial Japan by Mongolian and Soviet forces. Ahead of the trip, Putin pointed to a number of "promising economic and industrial projects" between the two countries in an interview with Mongolian newspaper Unuudur that was shared by the Kremlin. Among those was the construction of the Trans-Mongolian gas pipeline linking China and Russia, he said. The Russian president also said he was "interested in pursuing substantive work" toward a trilateral summit between himself, Mongolian and Chinese leaders. Mongolia's government has not commented on the calls to arrest Putin. But a spokesman for President Khurelsukh took to social media on Sunday to deny reports that the ICC had sent a letter asking it to execute the warrant when he visits. Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.