Putin Plans Hungary Visit Amid ICC Warrant and EU Tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Budapest soon to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in a summit aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict and strengthening diplomatic ties, leveraging Hungary's unique position and Prime Minister Viktor Orban's good relations with both leaders. However, the planned visit has sparked significant controversy within the European Union due to Putin's International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for war crimes, which Hungary is currently withdrawing from but remains technically obligated to enforce. EU officials, including High Representative Kaja Kallas and several foreign ministers, have expressed strong disapproval and concern over hosting Putin in a European country, emphasizing that his presence is "not nice" and inappropriate given the ICC warrant. They stress the importance of meaningful diplomatic efforts, including involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in negotiations, and call on the United States to exert pressure on Russia to bring about peace. The logistical challenge of Putin's travel to Budapest remains complex due to EU and U.S. bans on Russian aircraft in their airspace, requiring special permissions and routing considerations. Despite these tensions, the summit is seen as a strategic attempt to bridge divides between Russia and the U.S. amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.