But due to a ban on Russian aircraft flying through EU airspace linked to a wider sanctions regime, the Russian president would not be able to reach Budapest without defying the EU measures, taking a huge risk by flying over Ukraine, or going via a circuitous Balkan route.
Under the EU’s sanctions regime, national authorities may consider exceptions to the ban for Russian travel “if the competent authorities have determined that such landing, take-off or overflight is required for humanitarian purposes or for any other purpose consistent with the objectives of this regulation,” according to the EU legal text on the sanctions.
European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed during a briefing with journalists that individual EU countries could make exceptions to the travel ban.
Neither Putin nor his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, are currently subject to individual bans on travel within the EU, she added.
“Such derogations must be given by member states individually,” Hipper said.
No date has yet been set for the meeting between Putin and Trump. Moscow has not given any indications about the Kremlin chief’s travel plans.