Bulgaria has confirmed its readiness to facilitate a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest by permitting Putin's aircraft to traverse its airspace.

During a recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev stated, "When efforts are made to achieve peace, if holding a meeting is a necessary condition for that, then it is most logical that such a meeting be mediated in all possible ways." He further emphasized, "How is it proposed to hold the meeting if one of the participants cannot arrive at it?" news.liga.net

The proposed summit, aimed at addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, is scheduled to occur in the upcoming days. Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has pledged to ensure Putin's entry and exit from the country, despite the European Union's airspace restrictions on Russian aircraft. Orbán, a supporter of both Putin and Trump, has indicated that Hungary may withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, to facilitate the meeting. caliber.az

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Putin in 2023, accusing him of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. As a result, Putin faces arrest in ICC-member states, including those in the EU, should he enter their territory or airspace. However, Bulgaria's decision to allow his aircraft to pass through its airspace highlights the complex diplomatic considerations involved in facilitating such high-level meetings.

The international community continues to monitor these developments closely, as they have significant implications for European unity and international diplomacy.

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