The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday that it is “not good” that Russian President Vladimir Putin might travel to Hungary, an EU member state, for talks on Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will soon meet with Putin in Budapest, Reuters reports.
Speaking to journalists ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Kallas said that while Trump’s efforts to bring peace are welcome, it is equally important for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with the Russian leader.
“America has a lot of power to put pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table. If they use that power, then of course, it’s good — if Russia stops this war,” said Kallas.
Putin is currently facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), from which Hungary is reportedly in the process of withdrawing.
“Regarding Budapest — no, it’s not good to see that a person under an ICC arrest warrant would be coming to a European country,” Kallas said, adding that “the question is whether there will be any result.”
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said there is no place for Putin in any European capital.
“The only place for Putin in Europe is in The Hague, before the court — not in any of our capitals,” Budrys declared before the ministers’ meeting.
