Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić overcame numerous hurdles to finally arrive in Moscow on the eve of the main celebrations — Victory Day on May 9
His arrival in the Russian capital became a real test due to a series of external difficulties and diplomatic obstacles; however, Vučić still undertook this visiting trip, passing through dangerous air corridors and managing the complexities of air travel. According to information released by sources, including the "European Pravda" editorial, citing data from the Russian news agency RTS, the Serbian president was met at Moscow’s airport on Wednesday midday by representatives of the Russian authorities. The meeting was attended by Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aleksander Grushko, as well as an honor guard, which welcomed Vučić in the country’s capital. The route of his flight was particularly unusual. Initially, Vučić’s plane landed in Baku, where he was granted permission for the onward flight through the conflict zone between Russia and Ukraine — marking another episode in this diplomatic puzzle. Kremlin representatives reported that during the time of Vučić’s flights, Russian airspace was active with combat drones over Ukraine and active air defense operations, which limited flights to Moscow and forced planning of more complex routes. The exact path of Vučić’s journey to the Russian capital remained a mystery, as the Baltic countries — Latvia and Lithuania — banned his plane from flying through their airspace. This necessitated seeking alternative routes, and so far, only the fact is known that the Serbian leader traveled via less transparent routes, choosing less obvious paths. In Moscow, it is anticipated that on May 9, Serbia’s president will be one of the few high-ranking guests from European countries to join the official delegation for the Victory celebrations. According to sources, alongside Vučić at the Moscow festivities will be the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and the President of Serbia — making this delegation particularly notable, as they are the only European representatives present at this major event. A meeting with Vladimir Putin is scheduled for Friday, and according to Kremlin sources, that will be when their main discussion takes place — in the context of preparations for the celebrations, which carry significant political and historical weight for Russia and its neighbors. Such diplomatic steps highlight the importance of Russian-Serbian relations and illustrate the complexities and dangers of modern air travel in the region, which is heavily involved in international conflicts. Thus, Vučić’s visit to Moscow was not only an important diplomatic event in the context of international politics but also a symbol of energy and tension in contemporary geopolitics — demonstrating that even the most complex routes and permits cannot prevent high-level efforts to maintain and develop strategic ties in a challenging regional environment.