EU Unaffected by Sanctions in Issuing Entry Permits to Vladimir Putin
According to the latest official statements from the European Commission, U.S.
President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are preparing for a clandestine meeting in Budapest, which is currently under scrutiny due to diplomatic nuances.
It has been confirmed that the existing sanctions imposed by the European Union do not prohibit Putin or Lavrov from entering the EU, implying that there are no official obstacles preventing their visit to Budapest.
This information was clarified by European Commission spokesperson Ana Gipper, who emphasized that sanctions pertain to asset freezes but do not ban travel.
Whether the Trump-Putin meeting will happen remains merely a hypothesis for now, and the European Commission refrains from commenting on potential scenarios.
Meanwhile, questions about the flight of the Russian aircraft to Budapest arise, considering the EU airspace closure for Russian planes as part of sanctions.
Gipper stated that individual member countries would need to grant specific exemptions for the aircraft to cross the EU’s airspace.
Olof Gille, the EC deputy spokesperson, expressed a positive stance toward the possible visit, noting that any steps toward a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine are viewed favorably.
Notably, on October 16, Trump called Putin for the first time in nearly two months, announcing a possible meeting in Budapest that would mark Putin’s first appearance in an EU member state since the full-scale war began.
Trump also voiced dissatisfaction with the idea of providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles and said that now is not the right time to impose secondary sanctions that would reduce Russia’s revenue from energy exports.
Budapest officials assured that they would receive Putin with respect despite the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, and the date and location of the meeting have yet to be finalized.