Gulyas clarified that Hungary cannot arrest Putin based on Hungarian law, as the ICC’s statute has not been promulgated in Hungary. Moreover, the Hungarian government had not yet taken a stance on the ICC arrest warrant for Putin. Orban and his government have been the closest ally of the Kremlin within Europe. After Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine last year, Orban was the most reluctant European Union leader to impose sanctions on Russia.
Furthermore, Orban voiced objections to Western nations sending arms to Ukraine, and he has warned that Europe is “drifting into” the war in Ukraine. Orban made extensive efforts to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
The ICC has 123 member states, which are obligated to act on an arrest warrant. Thus, if Putin enters any of these territories, national law enforcement should place him under arrest. However, Gulyas claimed that the Rome Statue has not been built into the Hungarian legal system, so it would not apply.
Gulyas expressed his personal subjective opinion about the arrest warrant and said that these decisions were not the most fortunate, as they would take things towards further escalation and not towards peace. Hungary's position has raised concerns in the EU and other countries about its relationship with Russia. The Hungarian government's refusal to act on the ICC's warrant for Putin has sparked outrage, as it could be perceived as Hungary supporting Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine.
In response to Hungary's decision, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has called Hungary's stance "unacceptable." Kuleba stated that Hungary's decision would not contribute to the stability and security of Europe. He further emphasized that Ukraine expects all countries, including Hungary, to respect international law.
The Russian embassy in Budapest has welcomed Hungary's decision, calling it "logical." The embassy stated that the ICC has been politicized and used to "settle accounts with unwanted politicians." The embassy added that Hungary's position shows respect for the sovereignty and independence of other countries.
However, some EU officials have expressed concern that Hungary's stance could undermine the credibility of the ICC and international law. EU officials have also questioned whether Hungary's position aligns with the EU's position on the rule of law and respect for international institutions.