Baltic states bar Slovak prime minister from using airspace for travel to Moscow
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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will not let Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico use their airspace to travel to Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebrations in May, officials said.
"Lithuania and Latvia have already announced that they will not allow us to fly through their territories during the flight to Moscow," Fico said in an address on April 18.
"Why? Member states of the European Union do not allow the Prime Minister of another member state of the European Union to fly to these territories," the leader said, criticizing the decision.
On April 19, Estonia confirmed it will also refuse access. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Tallinn would not permit the use of its airspace for flights to Moscow for the May 9 parade, which he described as an event "aimed at glorifying the aggressor."
Tsahkna said that no country should be allowed to use Estonian airspace to strengthen ties with Russia while it continues its war against Ukraine and violates international law.
Fico travelled to Moscow for Russia's Victory Day a year prior despite calls from European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to boycott the event in 2025.
"I will definitely find another route as I did last year when we were torpedoed by Estonia," Fico said.
On May 9, Russia holds grandiose military parades in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe, often using celebrations to glorify the Soviet Union and justify its war. Most European nations, including Ukraine, mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day.
Fico and outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are widely regarded as Russia's closest allies in the European Union.
Orban was ousted after he lost Hungary's election on April 12 to his opponent, Peter Magyar, who is expected to take office in several weeks.
Both Hungary and Slovakia have repeatedly voiced opposition toward EU attempts to support Kyiv as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine.
As the EU plans to move toward the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has said his country is prepared to veto the measure unless Bratislava receives assurances regarding the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil via Ukraine, according to Slovak outlet Dennik N.
