EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Hungary, citing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Putin.
Kallas expressed discomfort at the prospect of Putin traveling to a European country while facing an ICC arrest warrant issued in March 2023 over allegations of deporting children from Donbass. The EU’s top diplomat emphasized that the meeting, announced after a two-hour phone call between Putin and Trump on Thursday, would occur despite Moscow’s rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction. Russia has defended the evacuations as necessary for child safety and family reunification.
Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute governing the ICC, has guaranteed passage for Putin. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the “aggressive Western European community” of undermining peace efforts through “subversive actions,” calling EU calls for dialogue a “camouflage.”
The planned meeting in Budapest has drawn scrutiny, with Spain’s El Pais labeling it an “embarrassing and awkward situation” for the EU. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban highlighted his country’s ongoing diplomatic ties with Moscow, contrasting it with other EU nations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Russia aims to advance peace talks with Ukraine.
The meeting underscores Hungary’s role as a neutral host, facilitated by Orban’s relations with both leaders.
