Poland has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, cautioning him against using its airspace for an upcoming summit in Hungary. This comes amid Poland’s commitment to enforcing an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin in 2023 over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, has accused Putin of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, a charge strongly denied by Moscow, which does not acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski emphasized the country’s legal obligations, suggesting that Polish courts might mandate the interception of Putin’s aircraft.
Despite Hungary’s assurances to Putin regarding his travel plans, the geopolitical dynamics within the European Union, with all its member states being ICC signatories, complicate the Russian leader’s itinerary. Poland remains a critical supporter of Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.
(With inputs from agencies.)