Why did Poland issue such a strong warning?
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorskidelivered a direct message to Moscow this week, warning Russian President Vladimir Putin not to fly through Polish airspace. During a Rozina Radio interview on Tuesday, Sikorski made it clear that if Putin attempted such a flight, his aircraft would be “forcibly landed” and the Russian leader taken to The Hague to face charges of war crimes, as per a report by Mediaite.
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The warning followed reports that Putin was planning to travel to Budapest, Hungaryto meet U.S. President Donald Trump for discussions about the ongoing war in Ukraine. That potential meeting appears to have been delayed after comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovwho once again pushed false claims that Ukraine was “under Nazi rule,” and insisted on territorial control Russia has never possessed during the war, as per a report by Mediaite.
Lavrov confirms, one again, that Russia’s goal remains a regime change in Kyiv and not just some land in Donbas: “An immediate ceasefire in Ukraine would mean only one thing: most of it would remain under Nazi rule,” he said, rejecting Trump’s latest call. pic.twitter.com/WgxMZ6tMYV
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) October 21, 2025
What is Poland’s position on the ICC warrant?
Poland, a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC)remains committed to enforcing international law. On March 17, 2023the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, followed by additional warrants for other senior Russian officials. Under ICC rules, any of the 123 member states are obligated to arrest Putin if he enters their jurisdiction. Poland is a signatorywhile Hungary withdrew from the ICC in June this year, a fact that may explain why Putin was reportedly considering the visit, as per a report by Mediaite. Sikorski didn’t mince words when asked about Poland allowing Putin’s plane to pass overhead. From Radio Rozina’s Polish transcript, he stated:
“We cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court will not order a hypothetical plane carrying Putin to be brought down for the transfer of a suspect to The Hague,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
He added that it was “distasteful” for any EU member state tied to Western alliances to host the Russian leader while Ukraine continues to fight for survival.
How did Sikorski describe Hungary’s stance?
Sikorski criticized Hungary’s positionsuggesting that its government under Viktor Orbán was increasingly aligning itself between the West and Russia rather than standing with its European allies.
“The fact that an EU member bound by the International Criminal Court is inviting President Putin to its home is distasteful. It also shows that Hungary is positioning itself not as part of the West, but between the West and Russia (…). There are those who would like Ukraine to capitulate. Ukraine has no reason for this,” he emphasized,” he said, as per a report by Mediaite.
He also underscored that “peace will come when Putin is able to understand that he cannot win the war.” According to Sikorski, pressure must be placed on Putin, not Ukraine, to bring the conflict closer to resolution.
What did Sikorski post after the interview?
Following his remarks, Sikorski shared a link to the Rozina Radio interview on his social media, emphasizing his point with the line:
“The plane carrying Putin may be intercepted in Poland,” which translates to “The plane carrying Putin may be seized in Poland.”
His comments underline Poland’s firm stance against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reaffirm the country’s role as one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters in Europe. As tensions rise, the warning signals that even the skies over Poland are no safe haven for Putin.
FAQs
What did Poland warn Putin about?
Poland warned that Putin’s plane would be “forcibly landed” and he’d be handed to The Hague if he entered Polish airspace.
Why does Poland want to arrest Putin?
Poland is a signatory to the ICC, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
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