Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
A planned summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked diplomatic and legal tension across Europe.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Oct. 21 that Putin’s plane could be forced to land if it attempts to fly over Poland en route to Hungary.
“I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won’t order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand (Putin) over to the court in The Hague,” Sikorski told Radio Rodzina according to the Kyiv Independent.
He added that Moscow is aware of the risks, suggesting that Russia will likely choose a different route if the meeting goes ahead.
Meeting plans in question
Trump announced that he intends to meet Putin in Budapest as part of renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine, saying the talks could happen within two weeks.
Hungary has given assurances to both Washington and Moscow that Putin will not face arrest during his stay, despite the International Criminal Court’s warrant issued in March 2023 for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian civilians.
Hungary voted earlier this year to withdraw from the court’s jurisdiction – it will, however, not take effect until mid-2026.
Budapest has already shown leniency toward other leaders wanted by the ICC, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Regional routes and reactions
Hungary’s location poses a logistical challenge for any Russian delegation. The landlocked country borders Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia — meaning any flight from Moscow would need permission to cross one or more neighboring states.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said Sofia would open an air corridor to Putin if requested, even though Bulgaria is also bound by ICC obligations. He clarified that while his country must detain Putin if he lands, it is not required to intercept his aircraft in transit.
Despite the ICC warrant, Putin has visited other member states, including Mongolia and Tajikistan, in 2024 and 2025, without arrest. Both countries faced criticism from the European Union for ignoring their legal commitments.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
