How will Vladimir Putin travel to Hungary to meet Trump? Will Russia’s “Flying Kremlin” fly over the EU?

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This meeting was announced by President Trump himself after a conversation with Putin. This raises questions about how Russian President Putin will travel from Moscow to Budapest. He will have to overcome several obstacles before reaching this destination, which will not be easy for Russia, and Russia will not be willing to take such risks.

How will Putin’s plane reach Hungary?

When Putin traveled to Alaska for the Anchorage summit in August, the US granted special permission for the Russian president’s plane. Putin flies in an upgraded Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft, known as the “Flying Kremlin.” It has four engines. Like US Air Force One, this aircraft is equipped with a variety of defense systems. This aircraft can not only protect itself from missile attacks but also connect with Russian military networks from the air.

Restrictions on Russian Aircraft Flying in Europe

Currently, Russian aircraft are banned from flying over US and EU airspace. Therefore, if Putin were to visit Budapest, he would need special permission to fly over an EU member state. This is entirely possible, but it would be difficult for a Russian president to reach landlocked Hungary. Putin rarely ventures abroad and has not visited the EU in years.

What the Kremlin Said About Putin’s Hungary Visit

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “At the moment, it’s unclear. All we know is that the president is ready to hold such a meeting.” Days after Putin ordered the Russian military to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU froze the assets of both him and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. A complete ban was also imposed on all Russian aircraft flying over the airspace of all 27 EU countries. Hungary and several of its neighbors are also NATO members.

Russia is a friend of Hungary

Putin has also been accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes for illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and separating them from their families. So there are some complications, though Hungary believes these can all be resolved. Hungary is in the process of withdrawing from the ICC anyway. Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orban are his closest allies in the European Union. The two leaders have already discussed this proposed summit by phone.