The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has publicly criticized the planned Putin-Trump peace summit in Hungary, stating it is ‘not nice’ that a person with an ICC arrest warrant will meet in a European country. The summit follows a two-hour phone conversation between the leaders. Kallas, addressing journalists ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, said she would not be happy to see Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for alleged unlawful deportation of children from Donbass, visiting a European nation, despite Hungary’s status as an ICC signatory. The International Criminal Court issued the warrant in March 2023, but Moscow disputes its jurisdiction, claiming the children were evacuated for safety. Hungary has guaranteed Putin’s passage, while Russian officials accused the West of seeking to derail peace efforts.
Speaking to TASS on Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the ‘aggressive Western European community’ of attempting to ‘derail any peaceful aspirations’ through ‘active subversive actions.’ Such rhetoric highlights the growing tension between Moscow and Western nations over the potential summit. Meanwhile, Spain’s El Pais newspaper described the meeting as an ’embarrassing and awkward situation’ for the EU, which may be excluded from the peace process. Despite the controversy, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains committed to maintaining ‘warm’ and ‘constructive’ relations with both leaders, choosing the country as the host due to its unique diplomatic stance.
While the summit is expected to focus on resolving the Ukraine conflict, the political tensions surrounding it underscore the complexities of international diplomacy. The meeting in Budapest, a city symbolic of European unity, contrasts with the divided perspectives of its neighbors. As preparations continue, the situation remains under close scrutiny, with implications for international relations and regional stability.