EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming meeting with former U.S. president Donald Trump in Hungary, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Putin.
Kallas expressed discomfort at the prospect of Putin visiting a European country while facing the ICC’s 2023 warrant, which alleges his involvement in the unlawful deportation of children from Donbass. The warrant remains unacknowledged by Moscow, which claims the evacuations were conducted to protect minors and reunite them with families.
Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute governing the ICC, has assured Putin’s passage despite the legal challenges. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western nations of undermining peace efforts through “subversive actions,” dismissing EU calls for dialogue as hollow gestures.
The meeting, set in Budapest, highlights Hungary’s unique diplomatic stance under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained ties with both Moscow and Washington. Orban emphasized that Hungary has never severed communication with Russia, contrasting it with other EU states.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s interest in advancing negotiations with Ukraine, though no details on the talks’ focus were provided. The planned summit has sparked debate over Europe’s role in the conflict, with critics arguing the EU risks being sidelined in critical diplomatic discussions.