Ukraine at the UN explained why Russia should not be allowed to international sports competitions.

Ukraine rejects Russia's statements about discrimination against it in sports by the international community. This was stated by the Ukrainian delegation at the UN during the General Assembly meeting.

Ukraine asserts that the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions is not discrimination, but a fair response to their participation in the aggressive war against Ukraine. Ukraine is firmly against the participation of these athletes as long as the war continues. Allowing them to compete would be an ignoring of international and humanitarian law, which Russia and Belarus violate.

By doing so, the organizers of international tournaments would show that Russia's war crimes are the norm. Russia tortures and kills Ukrainians under its flag. Belarus is also complicit in these crimes. The absence of their flags at global sporting events is a matter of hygiene that should be upheld by the international community. Russia has already taken the lives of many Ukrainian athletes and destroyed many sports facilities.

We call on the international community to keep Russia and Belarus from participating in global sports as long as their aggressive war against Ukraine continues.