Slovak Prime Minister Faces Detour for Moscow Trip Amid Baltic States' Standoff
Moscow-bound aircraft of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico denied access to airspace by Baltic States.
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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's journey to Moscow for World War II commemorations has taken an unexpected twist. Due to the shutdown of Baltic airspace, his plane is forced to make a detour, significantly impacting his schedule.
The airborne odyssey embarked from Bratislava airport in the afternoon, slated to touch down in Moscow around 21:30 local time (20:30 CET). The journey will traverse Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and the Dagestan region of Russia, instead of the usual path transcending Lithuanian airspace.
The route modification is a direct consequence of Baltic states barring Fico's plane from their skies. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, along with Latvia and Estonia, denied overflights for Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, forcing a lengthier and more complicated itinerary for Fico. The Prime Minister voiced his exasperation on Facebook, stating that "Estonia has informed us that it will not allow us to fly over its territory."
As the sole head of state or government from the European Union attending the Moscow celebrations on May 9, Fico remains unfazed by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' advice to avoid participation in Russia's military festivities. This decision, however, invites criticisms stemming from Slovakia's dependence on Russian gas and Fico's stance against EU policies that support Ukraine's bid for EU membership.
The Baltic states' closure of their airspace follows ongoing EU sanctions and animosity towards Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Hence, the diplomatic distance between the EU and Russia continues to widen, with episodes like this highlighting the continued tension between the two powers.
Sources: ntv.de, mdi/rts
Keywords:- Slovakia- Baltics- Moscow- Russia- World War II- EU
*Additional Insights: - The Baltic states' decision to close their airspace to Fico's plane is in line with EU sanctions against Russia, particularly in response to its invasion of Ukraine. This move aims to restrict official EU engagement in Russia and emphasize the growing diplomatic divide between the EU and Russia. - Fico's decision to attend the Moscow celebrations despite the EU's boycott stems from Slovakia's reliance on Russian gas and his skepticism toward EU policies supporting Ukraine's EU aspirations. - The Baltic states' actions and Fico's participation in the Moscow celebrations illustrate the ongoing complexities and tensions between Russia, the EU, and individual member states.
- The Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, shared on Facebook that Estonia denied his plane's overflight request, citing severe impacts on his travel schedule and route.
- Amid the tense relations between the EU and Russia, Slovakia's employment policy in the energy sector, particularly its dependence on Russian gas, has been a subject of debate.
- The Slovakian-Russian ties and the ongoing diplomatic standoff with the Baltic states over flight permissions are attracting significant attention in political circles, both in general-news and community policy discussions.
- The EU foreign policy, strategically formulated to apply pressure on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, is raising questions about individual member states' policies, as seen in Slovakia's decision to attend World War II commemorations in Moscow.
