Vladimir Putin's Troubled Trip to Meet Donald Trump

Donald Trump announced that he is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin in Budapest within the next two weeks. Although the details of this summit have not yet been finalized, everything indicates that the Russian dictator will have to fly to Europe. According to the BBC, Putin will most likely choose the presidential Il-96, nicknamed the"Flying Kremlin," for the trip to ensure his safety. However, the choice of means of transport is not the problem, but the route. The shortest route is through the European Union, but Russian government aircraft have been banned from flying over EU territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Flying over Ukraine is also out of the question.

This is the route Vladimir Putin may take

The British station cites the most likely route as one that runs through the eastern coast of the Black Sea, followed by Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia or Romania. Serbia poses the least problem here. As is well known, the country's president, Aleksandar Vucic, enjoys good relations with the Russian dictator. Serbia itself is a candidate for EU membership, but is not a member. This leaves the question of Bulgaria and Romania, which would have to agree and escort Putin's plane through their airspace. There is another possibility: through Turkey, then around the southern coast of Greece, then through Montenegro and Serbia. However, this is much longer. According to Air Live, if Vladimir Putin were to choose one of the alternative routes, his flight would be extended by up to three hours. It's true that the Russian presidential plane is equipped for long-haul flights, but such a long route would require coordination with Turkish and Serbian services and preparation of plans for a possible emergency landing if complications arise. Additionally, there's still the issue of flying over the Black Sea, which, according to experts cited by the portal, could be dangerous due to ongoing military operations in the region.

Hungary prepares to welcome Trump and Putin

The Hungarian government is preparing to host a summit in Budapest. It is known that Viktor Orban, considered Russia's closest ally in the European Union, has already spoken to Vladimir Putin by phone about the meeting. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also told journalists that they will ensure that Putin"can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home." As the BBC reports, the EU is also preparing for the summit – particularly in the context of Vladimir Putin's possible flight over EU territory. European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said that"member states may grant derogations regarding travel destinations, but the decision in this matter must be made individually by them." Moreover, the European Commission stated that it accepts"any meeting that can contribute to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine." It is also known that NATO has already sent inquiries on this matter to the authorities of the member states.