Fico: There Is Evidence of Efforts to Obstruct Trump-Putin Meeting in Budapest

Bratislava, 21 October (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said there is evidence of efforts to obstruct the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Budapest, describing it as a sad sight, TASR reported on Tuesday based on information provided by the Government Office. "The foreign minister of an EU member state says that Russian President Putin could be detained during a flight over its territory, while media outlets linked to the European Commission have warned Hungary that it should execute the international arrest warrant. I have always said that the EU has turned into a war cabinet and that a substantial number of its member states are supporting the war in Ukraine, naively assuming that this will weaken or even defeat Russia," said Fico. According to Fico, it is paradoxical that some leaders are pushing their way through to get to the summit in Budapest. He noted that efforts are also underway to ensure the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "In Slovak, this is called throwing a spanner in the works of a possible agreement," added Fico. If the European Union wants peace in Ukraine as soon as possible, Fico believes it should do everything to ensure the Trump-Putin summit in Hungary takes place swiftly and without any obstacles. "The fastest possible Trump–Putin summit in Budapest, without any obstacles and with the full support of the EU - that is my official position," Fico concluded. The Trump–Putin meeting is expected to take place after a phone call between the two leaders last week. Trump stated that they would aim to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. According to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish government cannot guarantee that an independent court won't order intercepting the aircraft with President Putin on board after having entered the Polish airspace. Speaking to Radio Rodzina on Tuesday, Sikorski reminded that an international arrest warrant has been issued against Putin for war crimes. jrg