Slovak PM's Defiant Flight to Moscow
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico is attending Russia’s World War II victory parade in Moscow, despite airspace bans by Baltic countries. Fico remains the only EU leader heading to the event, underlining a closer rapport with Moscow amid criticism over Slovakia's foreign policy direction.
On Thursday, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico took a long detour to attend the World War II victory parade in Moscow after Lithuania closed its airspace to him. Other Baltic countries imposed similar restrictions, complicating his journey.
Fico, the only European Union leader attending the May 9 event, joins over two dozen foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. His route from Bratislava involved traversing Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, and Georgia before reaching Russia's Dagestan.
Lithuania closed its airspace to flights carrying Fico and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, not an EU member. Both had to avoid Lithuanian airspace used since 2021 due to EU sanctions against Belarus. Meanwhile, Ukrainian airspace has been inaccessible since 2022 because of the Russian invasion. Despite EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urging against participation, Fico's plans reveal his willingness to defy Brussels, further aligning Slovakia with Moscow.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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