Can Putin’s ‘Flying Kremlin’ travel through EU airspace to Budapest?
Russian planes are banned from US air space, and from EU air space too.
So if Putin does fly to Budapest he would need special dispensation if he decided to fly over an EU member state.
A blanket ban was also imposed on all Russian aircraft flying through the airspace of all 27 EU countries.
Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, knows Putin well and Air Serbia has direct flights to Moscow over EU airspace.
Will Putin’s “Flying Kremlin” be able to reach Budapest via EU airspace?
1 hour ago.
Europe’s digital editor is Paul Kirby.
Vladimir Putin of Russia would have to overcome some obstacles before he could travel to Budapest to meet with US President Trump, though the summit has not been finalized.
The United States gave special permission for the presidential aircraft, a modified Ilyushin Il-96 airliner known as the “Flying Kremlin” with four engines and a plethora of defense systems, to fly when Putin visited Alaska for his Anchorage summit in August.
Russian aircraft are prohibited from both US and EU airspace. Putin would therefore require special permission if he chose to fly over an EU member state in addition to Budapest.
Although it is entirely feasible, a Russian president who has not visited the EU in years and rarely travels overseas would find landlocked Hungary to be a difficult place to visit.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says, “For now, of course, it’s not clear.”. The presidents’ willingness to convene such a meeting is what we do have. “..”.
In February 2022, just days after Putin gave the order for Russia to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union placed a freeze on the assets of Sergei Lavrov, its foreign minister and leader.
Additionally, all Russian aircraft operating in the airspace of the 27 EU nations were prohibited. Hungary is a member of NATO, as are many of its neighbors.
The International Criminal Court has also charged Putin with war crimes related to the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Hungary believes that all of the issues can be resolved, but there are complications. Regardless, Hungary is currently in the process of leaving the ICC.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told reporters that “we will of course ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home” after Putin and Viktor Orban, who is likely his closest ally in the EU, spoke over the phone about the planned summit.
It is also unlikely that the EU will erect barriers.
Any meeting that advances “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine” is welcome, according to its executive commission, which also backs President Trump’s initiatives in that direction.
According to the statement, one of the primary motivations behind its most recent proposed sanctions on Russia—the 19th package to date—is to engage the Russians in dialogue. It also notes that Putin is only subject to an asset freeze rather than a travel ban.
The main source of contention is the method by which Russia’s leader will travel from Moscow to Budapest. He is obviously not going to purchase a ticket on Air Serbia to Belgrade and then take the train to Hungary, which might be the most direct path.
He will want his Il-96 plane to ensure his safety, but doing so will likely require breaking the EU’s ban on Russian aircraft and using the airspace of a NATO and EU member state.
Speaking on Friday, Anitta Hipper, a spokesperson for the European Commission, stated that “member states can give derogations but it must be given by member states individually” regarding the direction of travel.
Additionally, NATO has referred the matter to the appropriate national authorities, who might comply given Trump’s involvement.
Even with dispensation, a look at the map shows Putin may have to take a circuitous route. Because of Warsaw’s chilly ties with Moscow, Ukraine is out of the question, and most likely Poland as well.
The most direct route, which passes through Bulgaria, Serbia, or Romania, enters Hungary via the eastern Black Sea coast and Turkey.
Putin is well-known to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Air Serbia operates direct flights to Moscow via EU airspace. Despite not being a member, Serbia is a candidate to join the EU.
The EU nations, including Bulgaria and possibly Romania, would have to agree and allow Putin’s aircraft to fly over their airspace.
Bulgaria is constructing a NATO base as part of efforts to strengthen the eastern flank of the defensive alliance, and Romania has what is expected to grow into the largest NATO base in Europe.
Both countries’ foreign ministries have been contacted by the BBC for comment.
If Putin wishes to play it even safer, he could fly over Serbia after passing through Turkey, around the Greek south coast, and then up through Montenegrin airspace. However, the route is much longer.
