Lithuania Closes Airspace to Slovak, Serbian Leaders En Route to Moscow

Lithuania, joined by Latvia and Estonia, has closed its airspace to flights carrying Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic en route to Moscow for Russia's May 9 World War II victory parade. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda cited security concerns, particularly GPS disturbances, as the primary reason for the ban, emphasizing the priority of passenger safety. The closures reflect strong Baltic support for Ukraine and opposition to Russian actions, with Latvia explicitly linking participation in the Moscow event to incompatibility with EU values and opposition to Russian propaganda. These restrictions follow similar bans for other leaders and have heightened tensions between EU members, especially as Slovakia and Hungary criticize EU efforts to reduce Russian energy imports. While the Kremlin claims dozens of foreign leaders will attend, only a few European leaders, notably from Slovakia and Serbia, planned to defy EU warnings by traveling to Moscow. The situation underscores ongoing divisions within Europe regarding engagement with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.