Bulgaria’s foreign minister has stated the country would allow Russian president Vladimir Putin to fly over its territory for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest, should a summit be arranged.
Bulgaria’s airspace offer amid peace talks
After the European Union foreign‑ministers meeting in Luxembourg, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said Bulgaria would not oppose allowing Putin to transit Bulgarian airspace for potential talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest, describing the move as “most logical” in pursuit of peace efforts.
When asked whether Bulgaria would grant the permission if requested, Georgiev responded with a question to the journalist about how the summit could be reached otherwise, stressing that the meeting should be scheduled first and technical details dealt with later.
Russia remains hostile; sanctions and stability concerns
Georgiev noted that no state has yet asked Sofia for details, as the exact date and venue of a possible meeting in Budapest remain unclear. He expressed hope for a lasting peace in Ukraine, but warned that Russia continues to wage hostility with drone and missile attacks, and that Bulgaria supports the proposed new sanctions against Russia.
He added that only a strong Ukraine can guarantee stability in Europe.
Routing challenges for Putin to Budapest
Because Russian aircraft are barred from European and U.S. airspace, a flight to Hungary would require special permission. The BBC suggests Putin might use his IL‑96 aircraft, which was flown to Alaska for the August summit. Hungary has declared it ready to provide security and facilitate the journey.
Hungarian assurances and Russian opposition
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto assured that Putin would not face arrest during his visit, could freely enter the country, attend discussions, and return safely to Moscow, with no need for coordination with other states or institutions.
In contrast, Russian opposition figures criticize Hungary for potentially allowing Putin’s arrival and urge the EU to block the visit, citing close ties between the Hungarian premier and Putin and warning of potential harm to Ukraine and European stability.
