EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has said she finds it troubling that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, is set to visit the territory of a European Union member state.

Source: Kallas before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 October, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kallas said she was displeased with Putin's planned visit to EU territory.

"Regarding Budapest, no, it is not nice. To see that really a person, with an arrest warrant put by the ICC, is coming to a European country. And again, the question is whether there is any outcome out of this," Kallas said.

She added that the EU must closely monitor developments in Budapest and remember that "Russia only negotiates when they are put on pressure".

"So, we also hope that President Trump does that," the EU's top diplomat emphasised.

She also said that it is important that President Zelenskyy meets with Putin.

Kallas expressed confidence that the United States "has a lot of strength to pressure Russia to come to the negotiation table, if they use that, then, of course, this is good if Russia stops this war".

Background:

• On 16 October, Trump spoke with Putin for the first time in nearly two months and later announced that they plan to meet in Budapest – which would mark Putin's first appearance in the capital of an EU member state since the full-scale invasion began.
• On 17 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the White House and after the visit, the US president stated that Ukraine and Russia "must reach an agreement" to end the war.
• Trump also refused to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
• Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Putin in Budapest.

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