Estonia to bar Slovak PM's aircraft from its airspace for Moscow trip on Russia's Victory Day

Estonia, following Latvia and Lithuania, has said it will bar Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's aircraft from its airspace for a visit to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations on 9 May. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.]

Source: Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry stressed that Tallinn's position is clear: no country has the right to use Estonia's airspace to strengthen relations with Russia during its aggression against Ukraine.

"Fico will once again not receive permission to use Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow to attend the 9 May parade, an event aimed at glorifying the aggressor. We denied this last year, and the same principle applies now," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna commented.

The foreign ministry also noted that Estonia applies a uniform procedure for EU and NATO countries for issuing landing and flight permits for official visits, but this does not extend to cases where Estonian airspace is sought for travel to Russia.

The Slovak prime minister, who for the second year in a row plans to attend the military parade in Moscow on 9 May, has complained about similar decisions by Lithuania and Latvia. Fico said he is confident he will find an alternative route to Russia.

Background:

• Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić were the only European leaders to attend the celebrations in Moscow on 9 May 2025 as guests of Putin.
• Fico reached Moscow on the evening of 8 May after the Baltic states banned his aircraft from crossing their airspace. Due to the overflight ban, the flight carrying Fico departed for Moscow via a southern route – through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia and Russia itself.
• Meanwhile, Slovakia's opposition strongly criticised Fico for his visit to Russia.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!