Latvia would not grant permission for Putin's plane to cross its airspace in case of meeting between US and Russian presidents

RIGA - If a meeting between the US and Russian presidents were to go ahead in Budapest, Latvia would not deem it possible to grant Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's plane permission to fly though its airspace, LETA was told at the Foreign Ministry.

The ministry's representatives said that Latvia backs US President Donald Trump's efforts to end Russia's aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, there are no indications at the moment that Russia and Putin are ready for constructive involvement in a meaningful peace process. Russia continues to ramp up air strikes on Ukraine, killing innocent civilians and damaging civilian and critical infrastructure.

"Latvia does not deem it possible to issue a permit for a flight through its airspace to a person who took the decision to start the war in Ukraine and is responsible for Russia's serious violations of international law, including war crimes in Ukraine," the ministry said.

As reported, Trump and Putin were scheduled to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The date of the meeting was not announced and it also was not clear how Putin could get to the Hungarian capital, given the existing European restrictions that prevent Russian aircraft from flying over European Union countries.

But on Tuesday, a US official who asked to remain anonymous said that Trump had no plans to meet Putin in the near future, days after Trump had said he would meet Putin in Budapest in two weeks.

Trump has been pushing for a swift end to the Russian-led war against Ukraine since returning to the White House earlier this year, proposing a series of direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials and hosting Putin at a summit in Alaska, but these diplomatic efforts have not led to any breakthroughs.