Overview
- Estonia, which announced its decision Sunday, joined Lithuania and Latvia in denying overflight for Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s planned trip to Russia’s Victory Day events.
- Tallinn said it will not permit travel that would strengthen ties with Russia during its war in Ukraine, repeating the stance it took last year.
- Fico said he still plans to attend the May 9 parade in Moscow and will seek an alternate route for his aircraft.
- The Slovak leader said Slovakia will sue the EU over the planned halt of Russian gas supplies and he will withhold support for a new sanctions package until assurances are given on the Druzhba oil pipeline that runs via Ukraine to Slovakia.
- Fico flew to Moscow for the 2025 parade after a southern reroute through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea and Georgia, and his moves now risk deeper EU rifts over Russia policy and energy security.