According to reports from Russian news agencies, President Vladimir Putin's recent foreign visit marks an unusual departure from his limited international travel in the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, initiated in February 2022. Putin's destination is Kyrgyzstan, where he is set to hold discussions with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sadyr Japarov.

Furthermore, he will take part in a Commonwealth of Independent States summit alongside Alexander Lukashenko his Belarusian ally, and various other regional leaders. This visit holds substantial significance in the context of diplomatic complexities and Russia's evolving relationships with different nations.

Putin's foreign travels have been significantly curtailed since the Ukraine offensive began, focusing primarily on Russian-occupied Ukrainian areas. His most recent visits to foreign countries, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, took place in December of the previous year. This shift marks a substantial contrast from his previously active international schedule.

Notably, Russia vehemently opposes the idea of Putin's potential arrest abroad, considering it tantamount to an act of war and deeming any such warrant as "illegal." However, Russia has proactively taken precautions in this regard. In August, during a BRICS summit held in South Africa, an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state, Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead of President Putin.

As Putin ventures on this rare foreign visit, his international interactions have drawn attention due to the evolving geopolitical landscape and his diminished presence on the global stage. This visit could potentially offer insights into Russia's diplomatic priorities and regional engagements.

Vladimir Putin's aggressive actions in Ukraine and the subsequent ICC ruling have collectively transformed him into a persona non grata in the Western world and restricted his global mobility considerably.

The ICC's ruling effectively closed the door to a significant portion of the world for Putin. The Rome Statute has garnered ratifications from 123 countries, bolstering the court's influence.

The ICC verdict presented a legal conundrum for ICC member South Africa, which was slated to host the BRICS summit, an event Putin had been invited to. In a last-minute adjustment, Moscow opted to send its foreign minister in lieu of Putin to avoid creating diplomatic complications.

Putin, when queried about his absence from the Johannesburg summit, explained, "Why should I create some problems for our friends during an event? If I come, a political show will start."

The ICC's arrest warrant extends not only to Putin but also to his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. Both are accused of the war crime of allegedly orchestrating the unlawful deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. Russia has steadfastly rejected these allegations.

Notably, Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan opted to skip the summit attended by Putin, a move announced by host country Kyrgyzstan just two days prior to the event. Pashinyan has openly criticized Moscow for its perceived lack of intervention when Azerbaijan launched a successful offensive to seize control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region last month.

Pashinyan's decision to abstain came on the heels of Armenian lawmakers' move to join the ICC, a development that has irked Moscow and potentially curtailed Putin's future travel options. Putin is slated to meet with the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, the arch-foe of Armenia.

The ripple effects of Moscow's Ukraine offensive have unsettled Russia's Central Asian partners. In 2022, Putin made official visits to all five countries in the region — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan — positioning them as Russia's core allies.

Image source: Nikkie Asia