Hungary did not support the European Union's joint statement on an international arrest warrant for dictator Vladimir Putin. Therefore, EU High Representative Josep Borrell made the statement only on his own behalf, and not on behalf of all members.

This was reported by sources familiar with the matter. Using the principle of unanimity in the decision-making of the European Union, Hungary blocked the joint statement.

Borrell had to make a personal statement

High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell, after blocking a joint statement by the Hungarian representatives, addressed journalists with his appeal.

The EU sees the ISS decision as the start of a process to hold Russian leaders accountable for the crimes and atrocities they order, authorize or commit in Ukraine, Borrell said.

General statements were blocked not only by Hungarian diplomats. EU justice ministers released a statement in support of the International Criminal Court's ruling on Putin's arrest warrant. However, the Hungarian representatives did not sign it.

Budapest, as usual, slows down the EU processes in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. However, the publication notes that, probably, Hungary's position on the warrant for Putin's arrest will be announced after the meeting of the heads of the European Union.

ISS issues arrest warrant for Putin

• The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova. The reason is the illegal deportation of children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.
• This means that Putin must be arrested in 123 countries around the world. These are the countries where they ratified the Rome Treaty after wearying. In particular, in South Africa, where Putin is likely to fly to the summit in August.
• The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Karim Khan, specified that the arrest warrant is for life and can only be withdrawn when Putin appears in court.