Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would not comply with requests for an Olympic truce in Ukraine, citing what he called unjust treatment of Russian athletes.
During a visit to China, Putin was asked if he backed French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea for a global Olympic truce during the games in Paris this summer, Putin replied, “I think these Olympic principles, including the ‘Olympic truce’ are very right”.
Putin went on to say, “Today’s international sporting officials are themselves disobeying the principles of the Olympic charter”.
Russian President accused sports organizations of “not allowing our athletes to perform at the games with our banner, flag, and our national music, our anthem”.
“They are committing violations against us and demand fulfillment from us. Dear friends: we won’t get far that way. No one has ever reached an agreement that way”, Putin continued.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his idea of an Olympic truce so that Russia ceases its current operations in Ukraine.
Russia intends to hold a rival athletic event in September after being forbidden from competing as a nation in the Olympics, along with ally Belarus, due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Macron expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week for supporting the idea of a truce during the Paris Olympics in all conflicts, including Ukraine.
Also read: Zelensky Urges Nations To Participate In Peace Summit In Switzerland
