Ukrainian diaspora calls for boycotting 2018 World Cup in Russia

Such a call was made by President of the Ukrainian World Congress Eugene Czolij, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The Ukrainian World Congress urges high-ranking officials of governments and international organizations to follow the lead of the United Kingdom and Poland, and refrain from attending the 21st FIFA World Cup games in the Russian Federation that persists with its hybrid aggression," Czolij said.

He added that the UWC commends the solidarity of the international community in response to the use of a nerve agent to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal living in the United Kingdom.

"The Russian Federation continues to demonstrate its blatant disregard for the sovereignty of independent states, the rule of law, international conventions and order, and remains an aggressor state that illegally occupies Crimea and persistently wages its armed activities in eastern Ukraine," Czolij said.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held this year in several cities in Russia from June 14 to July 15. London and Warsaw have already announced their intention to boycott all World Cup events.

op