Foreign Minister Sybiha calls for Russian athlete travel ban as Moscow's ice hockey return risks forcing Ukraine out
"I call on governments that have not lost their moral compass to deny Russian players entry to their territory," said Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for a travel ban on Russian athletes in response to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) ordering Russia's return to ice hockey tournaments. This decision risks forcing Ukraine out of the World Cup, according to the chair of Sweden's ice hockey association, Anders Larsson. The IIHF is compelled to follow the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling, which allows Russian athletes to rejoin international competitions.
Larsson explained that the IIHF, of which he is a member, has no choice but to comply with the CAS ruling. The return of Russia to top-level ice hockey could impact Ukraine's qualification status, as Ukraine was the last country to qualify for the World Cup. Swiss Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has vowed to take action to prevent Russian athletes from entering Finland, following similar moves by the EU.
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