Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is likely to face significant challenges in reaching the Hungarian capital, Budapest, where talks with US President Donald Trump may take place, due to the risks associated with crossing European airspace.

Source: Sky News, a UK television news channel, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In theory and under international law, Hungary would be obliged to arrest Putin the moment he set foot in Budapest. However, this is not expected to happen.

Although Hungary remains a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it is in the process of withdrawing from the institution, claiming that it has become politicised.

The ICC lacks enforcement mechanisms and relies on its member states to act. Hungary, which can and is likely to ignore the court's arrest warrant, has almost certainly assured the Russian leader that he would be safe in Budapest.

This would mark Putin's first known visit to an EU country since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Reaching Budapest, however, may prove complicated. Without a detour through Türkiye and the Balkans, Putin would need to fly through the airspace of European nations such as Poland, Romania or the Baltic states, which could decide to force his plane to land.

Such a risk, however remote, prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bypass Spain and France during his recent flight to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Background: Earlier reports suggested that Putin may travel to Budapest for a meeting with Trump via Türkiye and Serbia.

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