Hungary to Ensure Putin Can Enter Budapest for Summit with Trump
Hungary will allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter the country for a summit with US President Donald Trump planned in Budapest, according to Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Friday. Despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin for war crimes, Hungary intends to permit his visit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has declared the government's plan to withdraw from the ICC as of April and has previously welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest, despite an ICC warrant for war crimes in Gaza against him. The government maintains the position that such warrants have no legal effect within Hungary’s capital.
Trump announced on Thursday he would meet Putin in the Hungarian capital to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Szijjarto added that the summit date could be arranged after upcoming meetings between the US and Russian foreign ministers expected next week.
Context on US-Ukraine Relations
Donald Trump is also expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday to discuss the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
What are Tomahawk missiles and why does Ukraine want them? – Explainer
This summit and discussions reflect ongoing efforts related to the conflict in Ukraine and international diplomatic developments.
Author’s summary: Hungary will enable Putin’s entry for a planned Budapest summit with Trump, defying ICC warrants, while Trump aims to discuss Ukraine’s defense support during talks with Zelenskyy.