Considering the potential journey by automobile to Russia, Fico has expressed his thoughts.
Rewritten Article:
Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, shared some intriguing anecdotes about his recent trip to Russia. Seems like his plane wasn't welcomed in the Baltic States, so he had to improvise a bit. He contemplated driving to Moscow via Belarus, or perhaps passing through Kaliningrad, as he needed to be in the Russian capital sharp at 9 a.m.
"We had a hoot of options to get here. Even a road trip through Belarus was on the table. Another idea was Kaliningrad. There were plenty of routes, but we were dead set on making it to Moscow by 9 a.m., and we sure as shootin' did it," Fico said, quoted by RIA Novosti.
Before this jaunt, the Kremlin had called Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's attendance at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow a heroic act. Vucic had earlier mentioned that he promised Putin to be there for the parade, which is quite aclaim to fame!
Now, you might be wondering--why was Fico's plane banned from those Baltic skies? Well, it was all about the diplomatic vibe around his visit to Moscow. The Baltic countries—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—decided to keep the skies closed to Fico, since they were skittish about the political undertones of his visit to Russia[1][3][4].
If you're thinking this detour must have added to his travel time, you're absolutely right! His plane had to take a longer route, flying over Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and then into Russia. This scenic journey added about two more hours to his flight time, making it a five-hour journey instead of the usual two and a half[2].
Slovak officials, including MEP Luboš Blaha, weren't too pleased with the Baltic countries' decision, viewing it as a breach of EU norms. They called it an unnecessary political stunt[5]. Nevertheless, Fico's visit to Moscow went forth, although he didn't join Putin in the parade[2].
- On his recent trip, Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, considered various unconventional routes to arrive in Moscow on time, including driving through Belarus or passing through Kaliningrad.
- The Kremlin had previously praised Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for their attendance at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, considering it a significant gesture.
- Fico's plane was banned from flying over the Baltic States due to the political implications of his visit to Moscow, causing his flight to take a longer route, adding approximately two more hours to his journey.
- Despite the Baltic countries' decision concerning Fico's visit, it was not uncommon for war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news to influence such diplomatic moves, given the sensitive nature of relations between the countries involved.
