Vucic's aircraft has touched down in Baku, signifying his arrival in the city.
In a surprising turn of events, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's plane was forced to touch down in Baku, Azerbaijan, instead of heading to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations. According to Serbian media outlets Tanjug and Informer, the unexpected stop was due to increased security concerns and the unpredictable nature of airspace restrictions caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The stopping point came following reports of possible interception from air defense systems and the potential danger of flying over conflict zones, making the continuation of the flight unsafe under the current circumstances [2][3][4].
But the turbulence didn't stop there. In a move to exert political pressure, Latvia and Lithuania expressly banned Vučić's aircraft from crossing their territories, citing both technical and diplomatic reasons [4]. Other countries, like Poland and Estonia, also put a temporary halt on flights bound for Russia for the commemorative events. As tensions continue to mount, these restrictions intensify, with the EU cautioning that Vučić's attendance at the festivities could potentially hamper Serbia's progress towards EU accession.
Through it all, Vučić remains undeterred, asserting that his plans to travel to Moscow will carry on unaffected. He has already faced numerous hurdles in the lead-up to his journey, including an unplanned hospitalization in Belgrade and a subsequent cut short of his previously scheduled visit to the United States due to health concerns [1].
Despite the challenges, Vučić's invitations by Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War still stand firm. We shall see if and when Vučić will manage to successfully navigate through these multifaceted obstacles and continue on his momentous journey.
- The sudden cancellation of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's flight to Moscow was not limited to airspace restrictions in Ukraine, as Latvia and Lithuania explicitly prohibited his aircraft from crossing their territories.
- In a move that might add to this general-news topic, airports in Baku, Azerbaijan, had the privilege of receiving the unexpected landing of Vučić's plane during the Victory Day celebrations' preparation.
- The diplomatic complexity of Vučić's journey extends beyond Europe, as Poland and Estonia also halted flights bound for Russia, hindering the commemorative events scheduled for Moscow.
- Politics aside, the European Union has cautioned that Vučić's attendance at the Victory Day celebrations could potentially undermine Serbia's progress towards EU accession, adding another layer of concern to this turbulent situation.
