Russian President Vladimir Putin will take a major detour to reach Budapest, Hungary, for a planned summit with Donald Trump, as EU airspace remains closed to Russian aircraft under sanctions imposed since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The unusual flight route highlights both the logistical and political hurdles facing the Kremlin amid international isolation.

A 5,000-Kilometer Detour Around Europe

The direct distance between Moscow and Budapest is roughly 1,500 kilometers, normally a two-hour flight.

However, according to flight-tracking sources and aviation experts cited by BBC and Airlive, the actual route will likely exceed 5,000 kilometers, requiring a five-hour journey due to the EU’s ongoing airspace ban on Russian aircraft.

The most feasible route avoids EU territory altogether.

As outlined by Airlive and Reuters, the flight could head south over the Caspian Sea, traverse Iranian airspace, continue across Türkiye, cross the Mediterranean Sea, then pass over Montenegro and Serbia before finally entering Hungary from the south.

Shorter alternatives — such as flying over Poland, Slovakia, or Romania — would require special EU clearance, which is considered highly unlikely given the bloc’s unified sanctions stance.

Budapest Summit and Diplomatic Tensions

Despite the logistical hurdles and International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Putin, Hungary confirmed that it will facilitate his entry under diplomatic exemptions for international summits.

Hungarian officials say Prime Minister Viktor Orbán aims to act as a mediator between Trump and Putin, amid broader discussions over the Ukraine conflict and global security issues.

The summit, viewed as a potential reset point in U.S.-Russia dialogue, underscores Budapest’s break with EU consensus, positioning Hungary as one of the few European states willing to host the Russian leader despite mounting pressure from Brussels.