Why Trump's meeting with Putin could lead to Russian president's arrest

Trump and Putin are expected to meet sometime within the next few weeks in Hungary, opening up the Russian leader to arrest for one big reason.

When Donald Trump announced he’d be meeting Vladimir Putin in Budapest to ‘discuss ending the war in Ukraine,' as noted by reports like The Guardian, it comes as little surprise. After all, the US president is never short of spectacle, like when he just ordered a new batch of WW3-worthy B-2 bombers.

The idea of two of the world’s most controversial leaders sitting down in Hungary, a country known for its political balancing act, sounds like the setup for a geopolitical thriller.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has already rolled out the red carpet. As reported by European Pravada, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó insisted that Budapest is ready to provide ‘safe and peaceful’ conditions for the meeting, declaring: “Of course, here in Hungary, in Budapest, we are ready to provide the necessary conditions for the American and Russian presidents to hold talks in a safe and peaceful environment.”

Putin faces arrest risk as ICC warrant shadows potential Trump summit (Contributor/Getty Images)

But behind the glossy photo ops and talk of peace, there’s a huge problem. Putin isn’t just another world leader dropping by for a summit; he’s wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. This particular court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, is one of the last resorts for holding country leaders and senior officials accountable, when their own countries' legal systems can't or won't prosecute them for the most heinous of offenses: crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

Currently, with 125 member states under its belt since its inception in 2002, and being backed by 900 staff plus a €195 million/£170 million/$226 million budget, judges have issued warrants for 61 people and 30 remaining at large.

The court issued a warrant in 2023 accusing Putin of overseeing the deportation of Ukrainian children during the war. That means, in theory, the moment Putin steps into an ICC member state like Hungary, he could be arrested.

ICC’s 2023 war crimes warrant looms over Putin’s diplomatic moves (Milos Ruzicka/Getty Images)

Technically, that’s still the law. Despite Hungary’s decision earlier this year to withdraw from the ICC, a move that takes a full year to take effect, it remains bound by its obligations until mid-2026. For now, Budapest is still legally required to cooperate with the court. But Szijjártó made it clear that’s not happening. He said: “We respectfully await President Putin, of course. We will ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home. No agreements with anyone are needed.”

That defiance has already put Hungary in the spotlight. The ICC called its withdrawal ‘concerning’, while EU officials have hinted the country could face backlash for ignoring international law. Still, Orbán’s government insists it’s acting as a ‘sovereign country’, free to host whoever it wants.

Even if Hungary won’t arrest him, getting Putin there might not be so simple.

Analysts have pointed out that he’d need to fly through European airspace, countries like Poland or Romania, which could legally force his plane down to execute the warrant. It’s the kind of risk that’s kept Putin close to home since 2022, limiting his travel to friendly nations like China and North Korea.