Can Putin travel to Hungary for Trump summit despite ICC arrest warrant?

Can the Russian leader travel to Hungary despite an ICC warrant?

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have selected Budapest, Hungary, for their next meeting to explore a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict, following an inconclusive summit in Alaska. The meeting is notable as Putin has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since March 2023.

Putin is accused of involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.

If Putin and Trump meet in Hungary, it would mark the first time the Russian leader has traveled to an EU country since the start of the war in Ukraine four years ago.

But if he travels to Hungary, will he face arrest? Here’s a closer look.

How is Putin planning a trip to Hungary? 

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over alleged war crimes and the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during the conflict. However, the court lacks its own enforcement power, relying on member states to carry out arrests.

Technically, Hungary and neighboring countries like Serbia and Romania are obligated to arrest Putin if he enters their territory, and Germany has urged Hungary to act.

In April, right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would withdraw from the ICC’s founding document during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also on the ICC’s most-wanted list for Gaza war crimes, with an arrest warrant issued earlier this year.

The Hungarian parliament passed a bill in May to begin the withdrawal process, which becomes official one year after the United Nations Secretary-General receives written notification of the decision.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently emphasized the country’s intent to host Putin with “respect,” ensuring he has “successful negotiations, and then returns home,” suggesting that the Russian president is likely safe from arrest on Hungarian soil.

Despite this, the likelihood of arrest is minimal. Orban, a long-time ally of Trump and with strong ties to Russia, has assured Putin’s safety, citing Netanyahu’s April visit as precedent.

Orban has also highlighted that Budapest is "essentially the only place in Europe where such a meeting can be held," framing the summit as both a diplomatic opportunity and a domestic distraction amid economic pressures.

Historically, only a few leaders, including former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and former Liberian President Charles Taylor, have surrendered to the ICC.

A visit to Hungary would mark Putin’s first trip to an EU country since the war began nearly four years ago. However, the journey carries risks. The Kremlin has stated that "many questions still need to be resolved" before the meeting takes place, and EU sanctions restrict Russian aircraft from entering member countries’ airspace.

Exceptions are possible, but the EU faces a dilemma: allowing Putin to travel could be criticized, while blocking him might appear as obstructing peace efforts in Ukraine.