EditFico seeks new route to Moscow as Baltic states block overflight
Poland reviews overflight request as Baltic refusals force Slovak leader to seek alternative route to Russia’s Victory Day parade
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is seeking permission to fly to Moscow via Poland for the 9 May Victory Day celebrations, after Baltic states once again denied access to their airspace, underscoring persistent tensions within Europe over engagement with Russia.
Warsaw has confirmed receiving a request from Bratislava to allow the Slovak government aircraft to cross Polish airspace en route to the Russian capital. According to Poland’s foreign ministry, the request is currently under review.
Fico complained on Sunday that Lithuania and Latvia had refused to grant overflight rights for his journey to attend the military parade in Moscow, a decision that echoes similar restrictions imposed in previous years. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha publicly thanked Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for their stance.
The Baltic states have consistently argued that Russia’s ongoing war in Europe makes participation in such ceremonies inappropriate, particularly for EU member states and candidate countries.
The dispute over airspace is not new. Last year, similar restrictions forced Fico’s plane to take a significantly longer southern route to Moscow, passing through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia and then into Russian territory.
That journey also drew attention because it highlighted the limited number of European leaders willing to attend the Kremlin’s Victory Day parade. Fico remains the only EU head of government having confirmed participation in the event, even as other leaders, including Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have chosen to stay away.
The issue gained further prominence in 2025, when both Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić travelled to Moscow for the parade, using Bulgarian airspace for their flights. According to information from Bulgaria’s foreign ministry then, Slovakia had been granted a standing diplomatic permit for 2025 covering flights by government aircraft, including those transporting official delegations.
On that occasion, Fico explicitly informed Sofia that his destination was Moscow. Vučić, however, indicated Baku as his destination in his flight request, despite ultimately attending the parade in the Russian capital. Bulgarian authorities noted that the permits issued to Serbia covered a Belgrade – Baku flight and a return journey.
The use of Bulgarian airspace was notable given that overflying the country is not the most direct route to Russia. However, restrictions imposed by Lithuania and Estonia left limited alternatives, forcing aircraft carrying European leaders to seek longer and more complex flight paths.
At the European level, participation in the Moscow parade has become increasingly controversial. EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas warned last year that the bloc does not want representatives of member states or candidate countries to attend the 9 May events in Moscow, stressing that such decisions would not be taken lightly in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Serbia’s involvement has also drawn attention, as the country continues its path towards EU membership while maintaining close ties with Moscow. Vučić’s attendance at the parade has raised questions about Belgrade’s foreign policy alignment, particularly as Brussels expects candidate countries to gradually align with EU positions.
Despite the criticism, Fico has maintained his intention to travel to Moscow, framing the visit as part of Slovakia’s sovereign foreign policy.
Poland’s pending decision on whether to grant overflight permission now adds a new layer of uncertainty. If Warsaw refuses, Fico may once again be forced to resort to an alternative, longer route similar to the one used last year.
Sources: European Pravda, www.pap.pl
Caption: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak during a meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, 02 September 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Updated: April 21, 2026 - 02:47
