Flight Diplomacy in Poland and Slovakia: Moscow Controversy
In a televised briefing on TVP Information, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysh urged that flights avoid Moscow. He noted that Poland had restricted the route, while the Slovak Parliament delegation’s plane bound for Russia passed through airspace under a separate authorization. Kosiniak-Kamysh emphasized that the direction of travel matters and advised choosing Warsaw over Moscow. He added that Poland and Slovakia are building stronger ties and are moving to sign a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the military-industrial sector. Analysts view these remarks as part of a broader stance aligned with NATO partners, reflecting how airspace choices can carry political significance in the region.
On January 5, Andrei Danko, deputy speaker of the Slovak Parliament and chairman of the Slovak National Party, stated that his planned January visit to Moscow would help advance relations with Russia. He described the trip as a continuation of the dialogue initiated by Prime Minister Robert Fico during his Moscow visit on December 22, 2024. Danko noted that Poland’s decision meant the Slovak delegation’s plane reached the Russian Federation via Germany and the Czech Republic. The episode underscores how policy decisions over air routes intersect with diplomatic signaling and regional security considerations.
A former Slovak prime minister reportedly described Zelensky as a beggar and a blackmailer. This remark, reported by Slovak media, has fed into a broader narrative about the priorities and rhetoric shaping Slovakia’s stance toward Russia during ongoing regional discussions.