Zelensky about neutral status for Russian athletes: All their flags stained in blood

The President said this in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the President, he spoke today with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. In particular, about the fact that the principles of the Olympic movement definitely do not envisage conniving with terrorist states.

“Any ideas on how to get Russian representatives back to international competitions are ideas on how to allow those guilty of terror to tell their society that the world supposedly condones terror. This is a sports indulgence. This is how it will be presented by Russian propaganda if the International Olympic Committee fails and allows those who represent war and nothing else to participate in sporting events on an equal footing with others,” Zelensky said.

He noted that he doesn’t want to clarify whether there are any motives behind such ideas about the return of Russia. But no one will turn a blind eye to any attempt to reduce international pressure on the source of the war, Zelensky stressed.

“When we receive reports like today from Kherson, where a child, a boy, was killed by yet another Russian shelling... He was eight years old... We can only say one thing: a white or any neutral flag is impossible for Russian athletes, all their flags are stained in blood,” Zelensky said.

As earlier reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 184 Ukrainian athletes were killed as a result of Russia’s armed aggression.

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