Poland has warned Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that the Russian delegation’s plane must not cross its airspace when heading to Budapest, otherwise the Poles are ready to ground the plane, writes the Reuters.
US President Donald Trump announced on the 17th of October that he was preparing to meet with the Russian dictator, and the meeting could take place in the Hungarian capital Budapest. The goal of the meeting would be to try to achieve a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.
The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023, charging him with war crimes, including the illegal removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine. Russia is not subject to the jurisdiction of the ICC and denies all charges.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Radio Rodzina that he could not guarantee that a Polish court would not order the government to ground the plane carrying Putin to hand over the war criminal to the Hague tribunal.
The ICC’s warrant requires states that have signed the Rome Statute to arrest Putin
if he enters their territory.
Sikorski said: “I think the Russian side is aware of this. And, therefore, if this summit is to take place, hopefully with the participation of the victim of the aggression, the aircraft will use a different route.”
Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin, has promised to ensure Putin’s arrival at the meeting and his return home afterwards.
To avoid flying over Ukraine, the Russians must cross the airspace of at least one European Union country. All EU countries are subject to the ICC’s jurisdiction, but Hungary has begun the process of withdrawing from the ICC treaty.
NATO member Poland has been one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters since Russia launched a full-scale war in 2022.
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