Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised countries opposing Russia’s return to international sporting competitions, accusing them of allowing political considerations to override established sporting principles.
His remarks come amid growing opposition from European countries to Russia’s proposed participation in next year’s World Ice Hockey Championships, scheduled to take place in Germany.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Czech Republic on Tuesday joined Finland in declaring that they would refuse to play against Russia at the 2027 tournament over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russia has been excluded from International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) competitions since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently ruled in favour of Russia’s admission to the world championships.
Although restrictions on Russian participation in international sports have gradually eased in recent months, several countries continue to oppose its return, a position strongly supported by Ukraine.
Speaking during a televised government meeting on Thursday, Putin commended the International Olympic Committee and CAS for what he described as decisions that uphold the Olympic Charter and its principles.
However, he criticised countries maintaining restrictions against Russian athletes, arguing that the measures were politically motivated rather than based on legal considerations.
“Unfortunately, however, not all countries are prepared to honour the commitments they once undertook, and restrictions on Russian sport — which are political rather than legal — continue,” Putin said.
The disagreement has also extended to other international competitions, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declaring on Tuesday that Russia would not be permitted to participate in next month’s World Junior Hockey Championships.
The 2027 World Ice Hockey Championships are scheduled to hold in Germany next May. However, the tournament’s draw and scheduling have already been completed without Russia’s inclusion.
Putin, who has frequently appeared in public playing ice hockey during his presidency, has consistently opposed the exclusion of Russian athletes from international sporting events.
Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and forced millions of people from their homes, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
