Poland has warned Vladimir Putin that he cannot pass through Polish airspace to attend a possible meeting with Donald Trump in Budapest, as Polish authorities could be compelled to execute an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Hague-based ICC issued a warrant in 2023 for the Russian president over the abduction of hundreds of children from Ukraine and their transfer to Russia.

Moscow does not recognize the ICC or its jurisdiction and denies the allegations.

“I cannot guarantee that some independent Polish court wouldn’t order the government to force the plane to land to hand over the suspect to the Hague tribunal,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Radio Rodzina.

The ICC’s international arrest warrant obliges courts in member countries to arrest Putin if he sets foot on their territory.

“I believe the Russian side knows this. Consequently, if this summit is to take place, I hope, with the participation of the victim of the attack, the aircraft will take a different route,” Sikorski explained.

Hungary, whose prime minister maintains close ties with Putin, has stated it will ensure that the Russian president can enter and exit the country.

However, if he wants to avoid Ukrainian airspace, the Russian delegation will have to fly through the airspace of at least one European Union country. All EU countries are members of the ICC, while Hungary is in the process of withdrawing.