Ukraine Calls for Russia Olympic Ban to Remain
4th September 2025
Last modified on September 7th, 2025
President Zelenskyy has urged the new head of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, to maintain the ban on Russian athletes. The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics take place next February.
The Ukranian President was speaking to the new head of the IOC in a telephone call.
He congratulated her on her appointment, wished her success in her role, and thanked the IOC for its support of Ukrainian athletes since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
President Zelenskyy stressed that Russia has shown no sign of seeking peace and that its aggression continues.
“Since the start of the full-scale war, more than 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed as a result of Russian strikes, and hundreds of sports facilities have been destroyed,” he said.
The telephone conversation directly addressed preparations for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
At the Paris 2024 Summer Games a limited number of Russian and Belarusian athletes took part under a neutral flag and without state symbols.
They had to meet certain conditions that included proof of not supporting the war or having ties with any military institutions.
“Not only we in Ukraine, but many other countries that defend life, still expect the IOC to maintain the principled stance it held during the Paris Olympics regarding aggressive Russia and its accomplice, Belarus,” Zelenskyy stated.
“For the Ukrainian leader, Russia’s presence in any international competition automatically becomes a propaganda tool, warning that “Every sporting event that Russia manages to access, it always tries to twist for the benefit of its state propaganda: propaganda of hatred and war.”
The IOC has not made a final decision about the Milan-Cortina Games but it is expected to be the same as the Paris Games.
See more on Inside the Games.
One Russian speed skater, has recently been awarded Polish citizenship and is aiming to compete at the 2026 Winter Games
22-year-old Vladimir Semirunniy won a bronze medal for Russia in the 5,000m event at the Junior World Championships in January 2022.
In 2023 he fled to Poland.
Related Articles:
- FIS bans Russian athletes from all competitions
- FIS suggests Russian athletes may return to competition this season
- IOC President re-iterates criticism of Russian invasion of Ukraine
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