European diplomacy chief Kaya Kalas criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Budapest, Hungary, where he is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump.
“Regarding Budapest, no, it is unpleasant… to see a person for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant planning to enter a European country,” Reuters quoted Kalas as saying. She made the remarks to journalists ahead of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.
Kalas emphasized that the key issue is whether the meeting will be effective or not. “America has many opportunities to bring Russia to the negotiating table, and if they use them, of course, it would be good for Russia to end the war.”
Officials from Lithuania and Finland also expressed concern about the possibility of Putin visiting an EU country.
Donald Trump announced plans to meet with Putin in Budapest on Thursday, October 16, following a phone call with the Russian president. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that he is ready to host both leaders in Budapest. Hungary began the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court earlier this spring.

















