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Poland has warned Russia’s President Vladimir Putin against flying through its airspace for a planned summit in Hungary with US President Donald Trump, saying it would be obliged to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if he did.
Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Radio Rodzina that Poland could not rule out an independent court ordering Putin’s plane to be intercepted and the Russian leader handed over to The Hague.
"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand the suspect to the court in The Hague," Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Radio Rodzina.
"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," Sikorski said.
The ICC has accused Putin of war crimes over the deportation of Ukrainian children — charges Moscow rejects. All EU countries, including Poland, are ICC members, meaning they are legally required to arrest Putin if he enters their territory.
Sikorski added that if the summit goes ahead, “the aircraft will have to use a different route.”
Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains close ties with Moscow, has said it would guarantee Putin’s safe entry and return for the talks in Budapest. To reach Hungary without crossing Ukraine, Russia would need to pass through EU airspace.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said his country would allow Putin to use its airspace if it could help advance peace efforts, though Sofia said it has not yet received any official flight request from Moscow.
Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Radio Rodzina that Poland could not rule out an independent court ordering Putin’s plane to be intercepted and the Russian leader handed over to The Hague.
"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand the suspect to the court in The Hague," Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Radio Rodzina.
"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," Sikorski said.
The ICC has accused Putin of war crimes over the deportation of Ukrainian children — charges Moscow rejects. All EU countries, including Poland, are ICC members, meaning they are legally required to arrest Putin if he enters their territory.
Sikorski added that if the summit goes ahead, “the aircraft will have to use a different route.”
Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains close ties with Moscow, has said it would guarantee Putin’s safe entry and return for the talks in Budapest. To reach Hungary without crossing Ukraine, Russia would need to pass through EU airspace.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said his country would allow Putin to use its airspace if it could help advance peace efforts, though Sofia said it has not yet received any official flight request from Moscow.
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