Pre-rain noise on the European political scene - the weather intensified on the eve of the planned Putin-Trump meeting in Budapest. Initially, this visit was declared a "peace summit," but later it became a center of geopolitical confrontation, Topnews reported.
Initially, EU member states allowed Russian presidential aircraft No. 1 to pass through their airspace. But then the situation changed rapidly - some countries began to protest. In Germany and Poland, this visit is considered dangerous. Some analysts even mention the possibility of provocation or clash while the Russian leader is in the air.
In Poland, some politicians spoke about suspending or forcibly landing a flight over Putin's plane. Former Prime Minister Valdemar Pavlyak expressed the opinion that "the Russian leader should be arrested on the basis of an International Criminal Court warrant."
Bulgaria, on the contrary, was mentioned as the only country that expressed its readiness to provide an air corridor. However, this decision can still be changed at any moment.
Representatives of about 30 countries are currently gathering in London. They will discuss whether to allow or prohibit Russian aircraft from flying over European airspace at a meeting called the "willing coalition." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also participate in this meeting - for him, the potential dialogue between Trump and Putin has become a personal political problem.
According to European media reports, "alternative scenarios" are being discussed behind closed doors - including the possibility of an air incident. Some sources cite Great Britain as a potential center of provocation.
Former Estonian Prime Minister and EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, called Putin's visit to Hungary an "unpleasant situation." According to him, "The acceptance of a person who has been issued an international criminal court order in one of the European countries is a bad signal." Kallas emphasized that negotiations can only make sense with increased pressure on Moscow and the forced participation of Kyiv.
Russian expert Andrey Bezrukov issued an even more serious warning. In his opinion, "this visit is dangerous because there is a threat both there and in the air. Although Bulgaria has promised to help, the flight will have to pass through the territory of NATO air defense systems."
This warning exacerbated the anxiety in Europe. Because every action within the NATO system is under control, and every mistake can lead to significant political consequences.
Under these circumstances, Putin's flight to Budapest is becoming not just a diplomatic visit, but a dangerous political step. European countries are caught between two fires:
- on the one hand - the possibility of dialogue as a peace initiative,
- on the other hand - the risk of further strain on relations with Russia.
In Brussels, this meeting is being assessed as a "trial for Europe." One decision can disrupt long-term relations with Trump, while another decision can lead to hypocritical accusations of European policy through the appearance of temporary "trust" with Moscow.
Although Trump and Putin's meeting is officially presented as a step towards peace in Ukraine, in practice, it is becoming the most dangerous geopolitical game at the intersection of the interests of the US, the European Union, and NATO.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
