President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of the International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry.
The Head of State congratulated Kirsty Coventry on her election to the office, wished her success, and thanked the IOC for supporting Ukraine and Ukrainian athletes.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia continues its aggression and is taking no steps toward peace. He noted that there is currently no greater destroyer of sports infrastructure – and even the very principles of Olympism – than the Russian state. The President stressed that since the start of the full-scale war, more than 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed as a result of Russian strikes, and hundreds of sports facilities have been destroyed.
The parties discussed preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Head of State noted that Ukraine, as well as other countries defending life, equally count on the IOC to maintain the principled stance it upheld during the 2024 Olympics in Paris toward aggressive Russia and its accomplice, Belarus. Every sporting event that Russia manages to access, it always tries to twist for the benefit of its state propaganda – propaganda of hatred and war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that Ukraine stands ready to provide all necessary information.
The President also invited Kirsty Coventry to visit Ukraine.