A plane carrying Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Brussels was forced to turn back on Thursday due to a technical issue that led to the closure of Belgian airspace. Fico was en route to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss ongoing tensions between Slovakia, the European Union, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The issue stems from Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of Russian gas through its pipelines, a move that has put Slovakia and Hungary at odds with Kyiv, as both countries wanted to extend the deal to continue importing Russian fuel.
A Brussels Airport spokesperson confirmed that the airspace was closed for around an hour due to an unspecified technical problem with air traffic control, leading to the postponement of Fico’s meeting. While the rescheduled date for the meeting was not specified, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed the delay.
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Fico, who was returning to Bratislava, expressed his disappointment, saying, “As usual, man makes up his mind and God changes his mind.” He also mentioned plans to return to Brussels on Monday for an informal European Council summit, where he intends to pursue discussions with von der Leyen and Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen about the critical gas deal. Fico reiterated the importance of the issue, emphasizing its significance to Slovakia.
Earlier this week, Fico had called Zelenskyy an “enemy” of Slovakia, a remark tied to the ongoing gas dispute. The situation highlights the delicate balance Slovakia must maintain in navigating relations with both the EU and Ukraine, especially concerning energy security.
