Baltic governments are coordinating restrictions as regional leaders push back against visits that could celebrate Russian aggression. The decision signals unified security concerns.
Estonia, along with Latvia and Lithuania, announced a ban on using its airspace for the government aircraft of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during his visit to Moscow for the May 9 parade.
According to official data from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fico will again not be granted permission to use Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow in order to participate in the May 9 parade, which marks the aggression against Ukraine and, more broadly, in the context of European security.
“Fico will again not be granted permission to use Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow to participate in the May 9 parade, an event aimed at glorifying the aggressor. Last year we refused him, and the same principle applies now.”
– Margus Tsahkna
Context and regional reaction
Estonia also emphasizes the existence of a single procedure for issuing landing and flight permissions for official visits among EU and NATO member states, but it does not extend to cases where Estonian airspace is planned to be used for trips to the Russian Federation.
According to Lithuania and Latvia, the airspace of their countries may also be closed to Fico’s aircraft during his trip to Moscow for the May 9 events.
Such steps demonstrate the region’s shared stance on restricting flights over its airspace in the context of Russian aggression and European security.