Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted Poland as “ready for terror” following former Polish FM Radosław Sikorski’s remarks that Poland would not guarantee the safety of President Vladimir Putin’s airplane if he flew to Budapest for a summit with Donald Trump.
Lavrov Accuses Poland of Terrorism
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that “Poles are now ready to commit acts of terror” after hearing Sikorski’s threat that Polish airspace would not assure the safety of President Putin’s plane if it flew to Budapest for a proposed summit with Donald Trump.
Poland’s Court Decision Over NordStream Suspect
Lavrov added that Poland, by refusing to issue a warrant for a suspect in the NordStream sabotage, “justified a terrorist act” and that Warsaw would hinder the free movement of the Russian leader’s aircraft should the court demand it.
Polish Foreign Minister Responds to Sikorski
When asked whether Poland would allow Putin’s flight over its territory, the Polish FM said that “we cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court will compel the government to bring a hypothetical aircraft down to hand over the suspect to the Hague tribunal.”
Alternative Routes for Putin Over Europe
Since the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian state aircraft are banned from overflying EU territory. Lavrov noted that Putin could reach Hungary by flying over the Black Sea into Bulgaria or Romania, or via Serbia to Hungary, thereby bypassing Polish airspace.
Impact on EU‑Russia Relations
The tension underscores the fragile relationship between Poland and Russia, as well as the broader concerns about Russia’s ability to travel safely within or over European airspace amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
