Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has thanked Canada for barring Russians from the ice hockey championship.
Earlier, Sybiha criticised the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to allow Russian national ice hockey teams to take part in international competitions.
As Ukrinform reports, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand said that Canada does not support the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to legitimise Russia’s participation in International Ice Hockey Federation world championships.
"We are grateful to our Canadian friends for reminding Moscow that there is no place for impunity on the ice. Moscow still believes it can hide its crimes behind a hockey jersey, and that the rink will help it restore its tarnished reputation. Russia’s ongoing and deliberate attacks on Ukraine make headlines in the world’s media every day, reminding the world why international sporting tournaments must not become an opportunity for Moscow to return to the circle of states that enjoy international respect,” Sybiha wrote in his post on the social platform X.
The diplomat thanked, in particular, Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab, and Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden for their principled stance and leadership".
Sybiha stressed that Canada had shown how to prevent this, including through specific visa restrictions.
“Now it is the turn of other hockey nations, and we urge them to follow Canada’s example,” the minister said.
- Yesterday it became known that the Czech national ice hockey team refused to play against the Russians at the Ice Hockey World Championship, which is due to take place in May 2027 in Germany.