"It's not good" that Russian President Vladimir Putin could travel to EU member state Hungary for talks on Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kalas said, as quoted by "Reuters".
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that he would soon meet Putin in Budapest.
Ahead of a meeting of European foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Kalas said that Trump's efforts to achieve peace were welcome, but that it was also important that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet with the Russian leader.
"America has great power to put pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table if it uses it; then, of course, it would be good if Russia stopped this war," she noted.
Putin has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which Hungary is in the process of leaving.
"Regarding Budapest, no, it is not good to see that a person for whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the ICC is coming to a European country," Kallas stressed, adding that "the question is whether there is any result".
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that there is no place for Putin in any European capital.
"The only place for Putin in Europe is in The Hague - in front of the tribunal, not in any of our capitals," he was categorical.
Kallas also stated that he expects the 19th package of sanctions against Russia to be adopted this week, but specified that its approval will not be today.