Putin Tours Mariupol In First Ukraine Trip Since Invasion

Russian leader visits days after being accused of war crimes

- Arpan Rai Matt Mathers

Vladimir Putin visited the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol in Ukraine yesterday. Mariupol in the Donetsk region was captured by Russian forces after a bloody battle in May last year and has remained under the control of Moscow's fighters since.

The Russian president was seen driving a car around the city as he visited several districts. He also made stops along the way and spoke to the residents. Mr Putin met with the top brass leading his invasion of Ukraine, state media said. Mr Putin, facing an arrest warrant for war crimes, also met with chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov who is in charge of Moscow's war in Ukraine. The meeting took place at the Rostov-on-Don command post in southern Russia.

This is the first visit made by the Russian president to Ukraine since he launched a full-scale invasion in February last year, which led to the displacement of millions, as well as thousands of dead and injured civilians. The surprise trip comes ahead of a planned visit to Moscow by Chinese president Xi Jinping, who is expected to meet Mr Putin today. The two leaders will discuss a "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation", the Kremlin said.