Slovak Prime Minister visits Moscow marking 80th Anniversary of Victory, undeterred by EU challenges and threats.
Prime Minister Fico Hits Moscow Despite EU's Roadblocks
Robert Fico, the Slovak PM, touched down in Moscow amidst controversy, navigating a hefty detour courtesy of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia blocking his flight's route. The Baltic states' airspace bans resulted in an extended journey through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and finally, Russia.
The diplomatic spat arose as these countries hindered Fico's visit meant to honor the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, an event where the USSR played a pivotal role in freeing Slovakia from Nazi occupation.
With Ukraine's airspace off-limits due to ongoing conflicts, Fico's plane was left to tread a lengthy bypass, nearly doubling the usual journey time from Bratislava to Moscow. Instead of the routine 2.5-hour flight, the PM faced a grueling five-hour voyage.
Undeterred, Fico arrived in Moscow despite the scheduling chaos caused by the detour. However, reports suggested his Victory Day celebrations participation might be limited, excluding the parade with Russian President Putin[1][2][4].
Despite the seemingly orchestrated disruptions, Fico considered these roadblocks as a "strange demonstration of sovereignty"[1][2][4]. Observers saw this as a deliberate attempt to thwart his planned bilateral meetings[1][2][4].
In the grand scheme:
- The Baltic states, along with Poland, disrupted Fico's flight path, defying EU agreements allowing government flights within EU airspace.
- Ukraine's airspace was closed, preventing another viable route.
- Fico's detour took him over Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and into Russia via Dagestan.
- The roundabout route added significant time to his journey, extending it to around five hours.
- Fico publicly expressed his opinion that the bans were a calculated move to disrupt his visit[1][2][4].
- Ultimately, he made it to Moscow for the Victory Day commemorations[1][2][3][4].
[1] wikidata.org/wiki/Q10099224[2] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fico[3] news.err.ee/1420592[4] bbc.com/news/world-europe-49786041
- Prime Minister Fico, amidst EU's hurdles, traversed Slovakia's airspace through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and Russia, due to the Baltic states and Ukraine's airspace bans.
- Fico's visit to Moscow, scheduled to honor the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, was a commemoration of the USSR's role in liberating Slovakia from Nazi occupation during war-and-conflicts.
- In the political arena, the expressed desire to obstruct Fico's planned bilateral meetings was evident, as his unusually long journey through multiple countries suggests.
- Despite the unconventional route and scheduling chaos, Fico's participation in Russia's Victory Day celebrations was ultimately unhindered, marking a significant event in general-news.
