Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region of Europe, has made a bold decision. It has refused to let certain planes fly through its skies.
Lithuania Takes a Strong Step
These planes were supposed to carry two important European leaders to Moscow, Russia. The reason for this flight was to attend a large military parade scheduled for May 9 in the Russian capital.
This event is held every year in Moscow to mark the end of World War II. Many countries are sending their top leaders to join the celebrations this year. Among the 29 confirmed foreign guests are leaders from powerful nations like China and Brazil. But when it comes to European countries, only two leaders have made plans to attend the parade in Moscow.
These two leaders are from countries in Eastern Europe. One is from Serbia, a country that is not part of the European Union. The other is from Slovakia, which is a member of the EU. Their decision to attend the parade has raised eyebrows across Europe, especially in Brussels, where the EU is based.
Despite warnings and suggestions from other European nations, these two leaders decided to go to Moscow anyway. Their travel plans, however, hit a roadblock when Lithuania stepped in.
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Serbia Faces Direct Denial
Serbia’s leader made arrangements to fly over several European countries, to reach Moscow. But in order to do so, Serbia needed special permission from Lithuania to pass through its airspace. Without that permission, the plane cannot fly through.
Sources say that Lithuania has refused to grant this permission. This means the Serbian leader’s plane is not allowed to pass over Lithuania at all. The reason for this action has not been clearly stated by Lithuanian officials. However, it is understood that the move is tied to political tensions and the ongoing war involving Russia and Ukraine.
Serbia, not being part of the EU, must ask for permission every time its planes fly through another country’s skies. Lithuania, in this case, used its authority to say no. As a result, the Serbian delegation is forced to find another route or cancel the trip.
Slovakia’s Route Also Under Pressure
The situation with Slovakia is slightly different. Since Slovakia is a member of the European Union, it has an annual agreement with Lithuania. This agreement allows Slovak government flights to cross Lithuanian airspace without asking for permission every time.
But even with this agreement, Slovakia must still send in its flight plans and other travel details. These are usually coordinated with authorities before the trip. This time, however, Lithuania is not responding or cooperating. They have chosen not to process or discuss Slovakia’s travel plans at all.
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This means that even though Slovakia technically has the right to fly over Lithuania, it cannot do so if the flight is not approved or coordinated. Without cooperation from Lithuania, the Slovak flight to Moscow becomes uncertain.
When reporters asked Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry for more details, they chose not to comment. Other relevant authorities also stayed silent on the matter. No official explanation was given for why the coordination was denied or ignored.
At the same time, Russia is preparing for the May 9 parade. The Kremlin has announced that 29 foreign leaders are expected to attend. While countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America have confirmed their participation, most European Union members have decided not to take part this year. Only Serbia and Slovakia have made plans to be there.
By closing its airspace or refusing to cooperate, Lithuania has taken a clear stand. The move sends a strong message, even though it has not been publicly explained. Whether the leaders from Serbia and Slovakia will still manage to reach Moscow remains unknown, but their original flight plans have already faced serious challenges.
This situation highlights how countries can use control of their airspace as a tool during political disagreements. Lithuania’s actions have added a new layer of difficulty for those trying to attend the Moscow parade, especially those coming from within Europe.