Poland Warns Putin of Arrest Risk Crossing Airspace Amid ICC Warrant

Poland has issued a strong warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin against flying through its airspace en route to a planned summit in Hungary with U.S. President Donald Trump, citing an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that an independent Polish court might order authorities to intercept Putin's plane and detain him for transfer to The Hague, underscoring Poland's legal obligations as an ICC member state. While Hungary has guaranteed safe passage for Putin to attend the summit, the flight path from Russia to Budapest would likely cross the airspace of at least one other European Union country, all of which are ICC members and thus legally bound to arrest Putin if he enters their territory. Russia denies the ICC's jurisdiction and the charges against Putin, and Hungary is in the process of withdrawing from the court. Poland, a NATO member and staunch ally of Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion, remains firm in its commitment to enforcing the ICC warrant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to attend peace talks in any country, including Hungary, but has questioned Budapest's neutrality.