Robert Fico's Journey to Moscow
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has opted for a longer path to reach Moscow for the May 9 events, after Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland denied his aircraft permission to cross their airspace. His revised itinerary now takes him through Czechia, Germany, Sweden, and Finland. Estonia officially refused to let the Slovak delegation fly over its territory on the way to the Russian capital. In contrast, Czechia, Germany, Sweden, and Finland raised no objections to Fico's flight path.
Event Attendance and Confirmed Delegations
Fico has confirmed he will attend the May 9 events in Moscow but clarified he will skip the military parade. His plans are limited to laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Russian state media claimed that leaders from at least 20 countries would come to Moscow for the occasion. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no knowledge of such a high number of confirmed guests. The Kremlin also announced it would release a separate list of foreign delegations that have agreed to attend.
Among those who have confirmed their participation are:
- Alexander Lukashenko
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
- Sadyr Japarov
- Robert Fico
Representatives from the unrecognized entities of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the Republika Srpska have also confirmed their attendance. The King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, and the President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, have already arrived in Moscow.
Fico's choice to take an alternate route through countries that agreed to let his plane pass underscores the current political tensions in the region and the strained relations between Slovakia and its immediate neighbors. Given the presence of leaders from other nations—including those from unrecognized territories—the Moscow events carry symbolic weight in the context of international politics and geopolitical challenges. As such, the May 9 proceedings may influence future ties between Russia and its partners, as well as shape Western attitudes toward participation in similar gatherings going forward.
Fico's alternate route highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly with the Baltic states. For a deeper understanding of the airspace restrictions imposed on his flight and the contrasting response from the Czech Republic, you can read more about the Baltic states blocking Fico's journey.