Lithuania and Latvia Block Slovak PM’s Airspace for Moscow Trip

Lithuania and Latvia have denied Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico permission to use their airspace for a planned trip to Moscow, marking a significant diplomatic rebuke amid rising tensions over Slovakia’s foreign policy alignment with Russia.

The decision, confirmed by officials in both Baltic states on April 18, 2026, prevents Fico from flying through Lithuanian and Latvian sovereign airspace en route to Russia, effectively blocking the most direct commercial flight path from Bratislava to Moscow. The move comes as Slovakia’s government, led by Fico’s left-wing Smer party, has pursued closer ties with Moscow since returning to power in late 2023, including resisting EU-wide sanctions on Russia and advocating for a negotiated end to Ukraine’s war that would allow Russia to retain occupied territories.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated that the denial was based on national security assessments and Slovakia’s recent diplomatic actions, which Vilnius views as undermining European unity. “We cannot allow the use of our airspace to legitimize or facilitate travel that supports aggression against Ukraine,” Landsbergis said in a statement to the Lithuanian news agency ELTA. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry echoed the position, citing concerns over regional stability and the need to uphold EU solidarity in the face of Russian military actions.

The Slovak government has not issued an official response to the airspace denial as of April 19, 2026. However, Fico’s spokesperson previously defended the prime minister’s right to engage in diplomatic dialogue with all countries, including Russia, arguing that communication channels must remain open to prevent escalation. Fico himself has repeatedly criticized Western military aid to Ukraine and called for immediate peace talks, positions that have isolated Slovakia within NATO and the EU.

This is not the first time Fico has faced travel restrictions related to his Russia engagement. In March 2024, Poland denied his request to fly through its airspace for a similar trip to Moscow, forcing him to take a longer southern route via Hungary and Romania. Lithuania and Latvia’s coordinated action represents a deepening of regional pushback, reflecting broader unease among NATO’s eastern flank over Slovakia’s deviation from the alliance’s consensus on Russia.

Analysts note that the airspace denial, while symbolic in nature, carries political weight. It underscores the limits of Slovakia’s sovereignty in conducting foreign policy when it conflicts with the security interests of neighboring states, particularly those directly exposed to Russian military activity. The Baltic states, which share borders with Russia and Belarus and host significant NATO presences, have consistently taken a harder line on Moscow than many Western European capitals.

The incident also highlights the growing fragmentation within the EU over how to approach Russia’s war in Ukraine. While most member states continue to support Kyiv with military, financial, and humanitarian aid, Slovakia under Fico has emerged as a vocal advocate for concessions to Moscow, including the recognition of Russian territorial gains—a stance rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies.

As of April 19, 2026, Fico’s planned visit to Moscow remains unconfirmed in terms of timing and purpose. No official invitation from the Russian government has been publicly disclosed, and Kremlin officials have not commented on the Baltic states’ airspace restrictions. Diplomatic channels between Slovakia and Russia remain active, but any future travel by Fico to Moscow would now require alternative routing, potentially through Austrian, Hungarian, or Romanian airspace—each of which has so far permitted such flights.

The Baltic states’ decision reflects a broader pattern of using sovereign airspace controls as a tool of diplomatic signaling in Europe’s post-2022 security landscape. Similar measures have been employed by NATO members to restrict flights by Russian officials or those perceived as enabling the war effort, though applying such restrictions to a fellow EU and NATO head of government is rare and underscores the exceptional nature of Slovakia’s current foreign policy trajectory.