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yesterday

Slovak PM Robert Fico Defies EU by Heading to Moscow for Victory Day Parade

Fico reroutes flight after Baltic states block airspace, reaffirming Slovakia's pro-Russia shift and plans to meet Putin and Xi Jinping.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (not pictured), in Bratislava, Slovakia, April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Russia Victory Day Sparks NATO Split? Slovakia PM’s Blistering Rebuke to Pressure
Slovak PM Robert Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in 2024 to discuss gas supplies

Overview

  • Robert Fico is the only EU leader attending Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations, highlighting his defiance of EU solidarity with Ukraine.
  • Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia closed their airspace to Fico's flight, forcing a lengthy reroute to Moscow.
  • During his visit, Fico is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with attending a wreath-laying ceremony.
  • Since returning to power in 2023, Fico has halted military aid to Ukraine and adopted rhetoric aligning with Kremlin narratives, deepening Slovakia's ties to Moscow.
  • Critics attribute Fico's stance to Slovakia's heavy reliance on Russian gas and accuse his administration of spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation domestically.