Lithuania Rejects Proposed Trump-Putin Meeting in Budapest, Citing 'No Place for War Criminals' in Europe

Lithuania's Strong Stance on Proposed Summit

On Monday, October 20, 2025, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys issued a strong rejection of a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary. Speaking to reporters ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Budrys declared that 'there is no place in Europe for war criminals.'

The statement from the Lithuanian foreign minister underscored a clear message regarding Europe's stance towards Russia, with Budrys asserting, 'The only place for Putin in Europe that's in The Hague, in front of the tribunal, not in any of our capitals.' This came after reports indicated that Trump and Putin had discussed the possibility of a face-to-face meeting following a phone call, with Budapest suggested as a potential venue by a Putin aide.

International Criminal Court Warrant as Key Context

The Lithuanian minister's strong words directly reference the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023. The warrant alleges Putin's responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, relies on its 125 member states to detain and transfer indicted individuals if they enter their territory.

Budrys stressed that he could not imagine how Putin, under such a warrant, could even cross European airspace. He reiterated Lithuania's position that 'there is no way through Europe for war criminals to (attend) any events.'

Hungary's Position and Broader European Reactions

The prospect of a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest has created a complex situation within the European Union. While Lithuania and other nations maintain a firm stance, Hungary has indicated a willingness to host the Russian leader. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó previously stated that Putin would be welcomed 'with respect' and would not face arrest, despite Hungary remaining an ICC member until its withdrawal takes effect in June 2026. Hungary had also disregarded an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the year.

Other European foreign ministers, gathering in Luxembourg, also expressed their concerns. High Representative Kaja Kallas noted that 'it's not nice to see that a person with an arrest warrant (issued) by the ICC is coming to a European country.' Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen echoed this sentiment, stating that 'a war criminal, such as Putin, should not be welcome' within the EU area.

Lithuania's Consistent Foreign Policy

Lithuania, a Baltic nation bordering Russia and a former Soviet Republic, has consistently maintained a robust and critical foreign policy towards Moscow. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and reports of atrocities, Lithuania downgraded diplomatic relations with Russia, expelled its ambassador, and closed the Russian consulate in Klaipeda in April 2022. The country's leadership views Russia as a significant threat to Euro-Atlantic security, reinforcing its commitment to European principles and international law.