(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Ukrainian territory since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, visiting the occupied port city of Mariupol. The visit came in defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes charges against Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin's visit after marking the ninth anniversary of Crimea's annexation. Putin was shown chatting with Mariupol residents and visiting an art school and a children's center in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Mariupol became a symbol of resistance after Ukrainian forces held out in a steel mill there for nearly three months before Moscow finally took control of it. Much of the city was destroyed by Russian shelling, and the visit by Putin was considered a provocative move. Former National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster called Putin's visit a "moment of clarity" and noted the brazen cynicism associated with his visit to Sevastopol, which he illegally annexed in 2014, and then to Mariupol, where innocent people were killed by Russian military forces.
Putin has not commented on the ICC arrest warrant, which has deepened his international isolation despite the unlikelihood of him facing trial anytime soon. The Kremlin has rejected the move as "legally null and void," as it does not recognize the authority of the ICC. Putin's surprise visit came ahead of a planned visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is expected to provide a major diplomatic boost to Putin in his confrontation with the West.
McMaster believes that in the coming days and weeks, there will be more evidence of Chinese support toward Russia. However, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told "Fox News Sunday" that any call for a cease-fire in Ukraine coming out of the Putin-Xi meeting would be unacceptable to the U.S. because it would only "ratify Russian's conquest to date" and give Moscow "time to refit, retrain, re-man and try to plan for a renewed offensive."
The visit by Putin to Mariupol highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the international community's condemnation of the annexation of Crimea. The ICC warrant against Putin adds to his international isolation, and the visit is considered a provocative move. The upcoming meeting between Putin and Xi is expected to bolster Russia's diplomatic standing, but the U.S. has warned against any ceasefire that would legitimize Russia's conquest of Ukrainian territory. The situation underscores the need for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and prevent further escalation.
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