On April 19, 2026, the Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—affirmed their decision to deny Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico permission to fly through their airspace en route to Russia's annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, marking the second consecutive year of such a ban. The event commemorates the end of World War II in Europe but is widely perceived by these nations as glorifying Soviet and present-day Russian military power amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated publicly that the ban aims to prevent support for what they term 'war propaganda events' and to send a message against Russia's continued violation of international norms and aggression against Ukraine and European security. Fico, known as a pro-Russian EU figure, criticized the ban and intends to find alternative flight routes. This coordinated denial aligns with EU and NATO's unified stance to restrict official travel in support of Russia's contentious Victory Day celebrations.

On April 19, 2026, the Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—affirmed their decision to deny Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico permission to fly through their airspace en route to Russia's annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, marking the second consecutive year of such a ban. The event commemorates the end of World War II in Europe but is widely perceived by these nations as glorifying Soviet and present-day Russian military power amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated publicly that the ban aims to prevent support for what they term 'war propaganda events' and to send a message against Russia's continued violation of international norms and aggression against Ukraine and European security. Fico, known as a pro-Russian EU figure, criticized the ban and intends to find alternative flight routes. This coordinated denial aligns with EU and NATO's unified stance to restrict official travel in support of Russia's contentious Victory Day celebrations.