As the prospect of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump takes shape in Budapest, significant hurdles loom over the journey. When Putin traveled to Alaska earlier this year, US authorities permitted his state-of-the-art Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft, dubbed the 'Flying Kremlin', to enter their airspace. However, with similar restrictions in place from the EU, flying over member states to reach Hungary will require special dispensations.
The scenario is complicated further by the tense relationships between Russia and many EU nations, especially following the sanctions initiated post-Ukraine invasion. Despite these challenges, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key ally to Putin in the EU, assures that arrangements will be made for the meeting. We will ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks, and return home, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
While navigating through these diplomatic complexities, the most likely route for Putin might take him over the Black Sea and potentially through non-EU territory such as Serbia or even Turkey, as countries like Poland and Ukraine are deemed off-limits.
Although the EU supports negotiations for a peace process, the exposition of how Putin will get to Hungary continues to be a critical question. Furthermore, his meeting with Trump poses an opportunity for Orban to enhance his political standing amid upcoming elections, suggesting that all parties involved are keen on making this high-profile summit a reality.
