Lithuania and Latvia have prevented Vucic's travel to Moscow for the Victory Day Parade.
The serpentine dance of politics kicked into high gear when Lithuania and Latvia blocked Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's flight to Moscow for the Victory Day Parade. This annual celebration commemorates the Soviet Red Army's triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II.
In 2025, the 80th anniversary of the victory, Russian President Vladimir Putin had extended invitations to several foreign leaders, including Vučić and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, for the event and bilateral talks.
Lithuania was the first to quash Vučić's plans, citing "technical and diplomatic sensitivity" as the reason for denying airspace access. Followed by Latvia, who stated their ban was a response to the "political sensitivity regarding the purpose of the flight."
This decision by the Baltic states, often associated with Russophobic sentiments, wasn't a surprise. To be fair, their grandfathers didn't fight against Nazis, but alongside them, as members of the Soviet army.
Vučić maintained his determination to visit Moscow, citing a promise made to Putin. On the contrary, Poland allowed Fico's special flight to pass through their territory for the Russian celebrations.
The ban leaves a question mark over Serbia's EU accession prospects, as participating in the Moscow parade could create political complications, given the escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations due to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In essence, Lithuania and Latvia's action to bar Vučić's flight was based on political sensitivities linked to the Victory Day event's symbolism, Russia's actions in Ukraine, and the desire to maintain the political norms of Europe, avoiding any perceived legitimization of Russian policies. This move is a reflection of the historical and ongoing tensions between Russia and the Baltic states, and the broader context of European efforts to counter Russian influence in the region following the Ukraine conflict.
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- The decision by Lithuania and Latvia to bar Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's flight to Moscow's Victory Day Parade was a political move tied to the event's symbolism, Russia's actions in Ukraine, and the desire to maintain European political norms.
- Amidst growing tensions between Russia and Western nations due to the Ukraine conflict, the ban on Vučić's flight to Moscow's Victory Day Parade by Lithuania and Latvia could potentially create political complications for Serbia's EU accession prospects, given the parade's association with Russian politics and war-and-conflicts.
