Honor guard greets Vladimir Putin in Mongolia (VIDEO)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Mongolia on an official visit, landing at the Ulaanbaatar airport to a red-carpet reception with a full honor guard.

Putin is visiting at the invitation of President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, to mark the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a resounding Soviet-Mongolian victory over the Imperial Japanese Army.

The two presidents are scheduled to discuss bilateral relations and the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Russia and Mongolia, and “will exchange views on current international and regional issues,” according to the Kremlin.

Putin was greeted at the airport by Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg. He is also scheduled to meet the chairman of the Mongolian parliament (State Great Khural) Dashzegviin Amarbayasgalan and Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai. 

The Russian president last visited Mongolia in 2019, when the two countries signed a treaty on strategic partnership and marked the 80th anniversary of the victory at Khalkhin Gol.

The 1939 battle was a clash between the Red Army force commanded by General Georgy Zhukov, and his Mongolian allies, and the Japanese Kwantung Army that occupied parts of China at the time. The decisive Soviet-Mongolian victory secured the USSR’s eastern flank until the end of the Second World War.