Poland reviews Fico overflight request as Lithuania maintains Moscow flight ban

Poland is reviewing a Slovak request for overflight access for Prime Minister Robert Fico’s plane en route to Moscow, while Lithuania maintains its refusal, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Maciej Wewirr said the request “is being analyzed,” according to TVP World.

Lithuania will continue denying access, a presidential national security aide said.

“I believe this is our consistent position. We certainly do not support the desire of states to improve relations with an aggressor state. Therefore, this is our very clear moral stance, which we are upholding,” the aide told Lithuanian radio station Ziniu Radijas, according to broadcaster LRT.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry told LRT on Monday that it had not received an overflight request from Slovakia, without clarifying whether a formal decision had been taken.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have already refused to grant overflight clearance for Fico’s planned trip to Moscow, where Russia is set to hold its annual May 9 Victory Day parade marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said no country should allow its airspace to be used to strengthen ties with Russia while it continues its war against Ukraine and violates international norms.

The Baltic states have argued that standard EU and NATO procedures for official flights do not apply in cases involving travel to Russia under current geopolitical conditions.

Fico confirmed that the Baltic countries had denied access and said he would seek alternative routes for the trip.

Last year, after similar restrictions, he travelled to Moscow via Hungary, Romania and the Black Sea.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also had to reroute.

Fico was the only high-ranking EU official to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade last year, drawing criticism from European officials.