Russia hasn’t yet demonstrated political will regarding ceasefire and war end – Yermak
Russia has not yet demonstrated political will regarding the ceasefire and end of the war, said head of the President’s Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak during an online meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ukrainian Football Association, during which they coordinated actions to prevent the Russian national team from participating in the World Cup next year.
"Russia has not yet demonstrated political will regarding the ceasefire and end of the war. Therefore, it would be a big mistake to say that we should accommodate Russia and allow it to participate in football championships," said Yermak, quoted by the press service of the President's Office on its website on Tuesday.
Yermak recalled that the International Olympic Committee banned Russia from participating in team sports competitions because of the war, and the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) must demonstrate solidarity with the global sports community in order to prevent representatives of the aggressor country from participating in big-time sports.
"Football cannot become a platform for propaganda of aggressors. Sports organizations of the aggressor are a tool of the regime. Russian sports are completely under the control of the state machine and are a tool of influence," noted the head of the President's Office.