Lithuania, along with Estonia, has taken a firm stance by prohibiting planes carrying Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić from entering their airspace en route to Moscow for Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. The event commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany on 9 May, and Fico and Vučić were among the select European leaders invited to attend the military parade.
The decision to restrict travel was made on grounds of security, as emphasized by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who stated that ensuring the safety of all individuals passing through Lithuania, including leaders, is of paramount importance. Similarly, Estonia’s foreign ministry announced that their airspace would not be utilized for traveling to Moscow for the parade, emphasizing their non-support for the event due to Russia’s ongoing conflict in Europe.
Moreover, Estonia has previously denied overflight requests by other countries, including Cuba and Brazil, en route to Moscow. The country has also made it clear that flight permissions for world leader flights to Moscow’s celebrations will not be granted. Latvia’s foreign ministry echoed these sentiments, denouncing participation in the 9 May event as contradictory to EU values and emphasizing that Russia, as the aggressor, must be held accountable for its actions.
Since the conflict in Ukraine, travel to Russia from Europe has been restricted, with planes now required to take longer routes through other countries instead of the previous shorter path via Ukraine. Reports indicate that the Serbian president’s plane has redirected its course towards Azerbaijan amid the airspace restrictions imposed by Lithuania and Estonia.
These recent developments underscore the geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia and its interactions with European countries. The decision by Lithuania and Estonia to block overflights to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations highlights the complexities of international relations and the prioritization of security concerns in the region.
As political dynamics continue to evolve, such actions reflect the ongoing challenges in diplomatic engagements between European nations and Russia. The refusal to support events hosted by Russia underscores the deep-rooted disagreements and diverging perspectives on historical narratives and geopolitical strategies, further complicating relations between the involved parties.
While the immediate impact may be felt in the realm of international travel and event participation, the broader implications extend to questions of sovereignty, security, and the maintenance of diplomatic ties within the European continent. These developments serve as a reminder of the intricate web of alliances and conflicts shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.
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