Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on April 18 that Lithuania and Latvia will not allow him to use their airspace for a planned trip to Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in May.
- Lithuania and Latvia have denied flight access to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for his trip to Moscow.
- Fico intends to find an alternative route, citing a similar experience with Estonia the previous year.
- Slovakia has signaled a potential veto of the EU’s 20th sanctions package over concerns regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline.
Airspace Restrictions for Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico
Criticizing the decision, Fico questioned why member states of the European Union would block the Prime Minister of another member state from flying to these territories.
The Slovak leader stated that he will find an alternative route to Moscow, noting that he faced similar obstacles from Estonia during his visit to Russia for Victory Day a year prior.
The planned visit comes despite calls from European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to boycott the 2025 celebrations.
Geopolitical Tensions and EU Relations
Russia holds large military parades on May 9 to celebrate the end of World War II in Europe, events that are frequently used to glorify the Soviet Union and justify its current war. In contrast, most European nations and Ukraine observe Victory in Europe Day on May 8.
Fico and outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are widely viewed as the closest allies of Russia within the European Union. Orban recently lost Hungary’s election on April 12 to Peter Magyar, who is expected to take office in several weeks.
Both Slovakia and Hungary have consistently opposed European Union efforts to provide support to Kyiv as Russia continues its war against Ukraine.
Potential Veto of EU Sanctions
As the European Union prepares the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, Slovakia has raised concerns regarding the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil via Ukraine.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has stated that Bratislava is prepared to veto the sanctions measure unless the country receives assurances regarding the pipeline’s operation.
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