EU Diplomat Criticizes Putin-Trump Peace Summit in Budapest

Discontent has emerged from the European Union regarding the upcoming peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. The meeting is set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, following a lengthy phone conversation between the two leaders. European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, particularly in light of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin.

During a press briefing ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Kallas stated it is “not nice” to have a leader with an arrest warrant visiting a European country. The ICC’s warrant, issued in March 2023, pertains to allegations of unlawfully deporting children from the conflict-ridden Donbass region. Although Russia does not recognize the ICC’s authority, it has defended its actions by asserting that the evacuations were necessary for the children’s safety and aimed at reuniting them with their families.

Despite Hungary’s commitment to the Rome Statute, which governs ICC operations, the Hungarian government has assured that Putin will be granted safe passage. This has raised concerns among EU officials, particularly with Kallas highlighting the awkwardness of the summit’s location in the heart of Europe. Critics, including the Spanish newspaper El Pais, have described the meeting as an “embarrassing and awkward situation” for the EU, suggesting that the bloc may be sidelined in critical peace negotiations.

In response to the growing criticism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the “aggressive Western European community” of attempting to thwart peaceful initiatives. Zakharova characterized calls for peace from Brussels as mere “camouflage” for more aggressive intentions.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s desire to advance towards a settlement regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He noted that Hungary was chosen as the host country due to Prime Minister Viktor Orban‘s “warm” and “constructive” relations with both Putin and Trump. Orban himself emphasized on social media that Hungary has maintained open channels of negotiation with Moscow, in stark contrast to many other EU member states.

As the summit approaches, it remains to be seen how the gathering of these two significant leaders will impact diplomatic relations in Europe and the broader geopolitical landscape.