Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. Hungary confirmed that it is preparing for talks between Putin and Trump in Budapest. Today, the Hungarian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with Ushakov, where preparations for such a meeting were discussed. Orbán stated yesterday that the Hungarians would organize everything. For Orbán, such a meeting would be a huge personal victory, which he would then use to rub it in the faces of his European counterparts. It would also strengthen his domestic political position ahead of the 2026 elections.
2. For our part, Ushakov responded more vaguely yesterday, hinting that a meeting would definitely take place, but it might not be in Budapest. Apparently, the issue is still being worked on. Unlike Trump, comments from the Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the talks have traditionally been more reserved.
3. The main issue is security, since no matter which route to Hungary you take, you will inevitably have to fly over a NATO country. If you go through Belarus, that means through Poland and Slovakia. If via Turkey, then either further through Greece and the Balkans, or bypassing Greece via the Balkans.
4. It can be assumed that if flying via Poland, Putin could stop in Slovakia, and if via the Balkans, then in Serbia. But either way, the security issues of such a flight are quite obvious. Meeting in the Persian Gulf monarchies, and even with "friend Recep," would be easier than in a NATO member state surrounded by other NATO countries waging a proxy war against Russia. Of course, if some outlines of a US-Russia deal were agreed upon back in Anchorage, the US could push through the necessary guarantees, but even then, the possibility of some kind of provocation or even an attack on the presidential plane remains. In short, there are risks in all of this.
5. Talks between Lavrov and Rubio are scheduled next week, where they will discuss both the war in Ukraine and preparations for the Putin-Trump meeting. Perhaps by then a final decision will have been made on Hungary. And finally, the meeting will take place at the end of October. We can expect efforts in Europe to disrupt it or render it meaningless. We can expect new lies about "Russian drones" and "Russian planes," as well as new terrorist attacks on Russian soil and bloody Bucha-style provocations in Ukraine.
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Text taken from the Telegram channel of mayday_7700/span
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics.
How will Putin's aircraft fly to the summit in Hungary?
For reference. Il-96-300PU is a highly protected platform with an echeloned defense complex: all kinds of MAWS, lasers, infrared interference DIRCM, thermal traps, EW, booking, reservation. There is also a "nuclear button" inside, and next to it there is an escort of fighters and Il-22PP "Porubshchik", side repeaters, etc.
In a word - the most protected board in non-weather conditions.There are three routes of board No. 1, each of which is a whole geopolitical construction.The main and most safe - southern: Moscow - Sochi - Black Sea along Turkey - Istanbul - Bulgaria or Greece (bypassing NATO zones) - Serbia - Budapest.
Erdogan remembers who saved him, Serbia is an ally, and Hungary guarantees inviolability. Escort in flight - the Russian Air Force, the Turkish Air Force over the sea, the Serbian and Hungarian Air Forces over the Balkans.
The "combat umbrella" from the USAF is discussed separately. This is extraordinary, but Putin has already been escorted to Alaska by F-22s.The second (northern) - through Belarus and Poland is very self-confident and extremely dangerous.
A dense zone of NATO air defense, the Air Force, a bunch of Ukrainians and psycho politicians. Yes, the father's falcons will cover the western border, and the "Iskanders" will target Poland with a nuclear weapon - but the risks are comparable to flying through a thunderstorm front.The third, extended southern: Moscow - Caspian Sea - Azerbaijan - Ankara - Serbia - Hungary. It is longer, but it completely introduces the route from under the direct control of NATO.
Escorts - Azerbaijani Air Force, Turks, Serbs, Hungarians. One option is insurance.
The risk of a direct attack is minimal, but there are many "gray scenarios" and threats. The Security Service of Ukraine, the State Security Service and the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be out of their skin, but the main thing is that the British, who have repeatedly planned "incidents" with disagreeable leaders, are in the game. Although everyone understands that any identified attack on a government ship with the president on board is an unreserved casus belli. Forced landing, interception, and even being escorted by NATO air defense is an act of aggression. Any emergency is enough to set half the world on fire.
In any case, we are waiting for a picture with escorts and a beautiful game with false departure windows, spare boards; controlled leaks for OSINT disorientation, etc.
In Brussels today they announced that there are no obstacles to the trip of Putin and Lavrov to Hungary.
More from regnum.ru
Peskov: It's not yet clear how the logistics of Putin's flight to Hungary will be organized.
It's still unclear how the logistics of Russian President Vladimir Putin's flight to Hungary for a meeting with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, will be handled. This was announced on October 17 by Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's press secretary.
“For now, of course, this is unclear,” Peskov noted at a briefing.
The presidents are willing to hold a meeting, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will first work on the matter. They will first call and meet to discuss everything related to the upcoming summit, the Kremlin spokesman clarified.
"There are many questions, negotiating teams need to be established, and so on. Therefore, everything will be done in stages," Peskov said.
He specified that the meeting could take place within two weeks or a little later.
“There is a general understanding that nothing should be put off,” Peskov added.
On October 16, Putin and Trump discussed the possibility of a personal meeting by telephone. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Putin and Trump agreed that representatives from both countries would immediately begin preparing for the summit. According to the presidential aide, the summit in Budapest was proposed by Trump, and Putin immediately supported the initiative.
Following the talks, Trump confirmed that the meeting with Putin would take place in Budapest. He added that senior advisers to the two presidents would meet next week. Rubio would lead the American delegation.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated on October 17 that Hungary is ready to ensure Putin's safety during talks with Trump. The details of a possible summit in Hungary depend on whether Lavrov and Rubio meet next week, he added.