Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for a ceasefire with Russia during the upcoming Paris Olympics and criticized Western nations for advocating a swift resolution to the conflict. Traditionally, a truce is observed during the games, a practice dating back to Ancient Greece. However, it appears this year’s Olympics in Paris, scheduled from July 26th to August 11th, will likely not see such a truce.
Last month, Macron suggested that the Olympics be used as an opportunity for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. However, both Kyiv and Moscow seem uninterested in this proposal. In an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, Zelensky argued that an Olympic truce would only advantage Russia by allowing them to move troops and equipment without the threat of Ukrainian attacks.
“If it’s a truce, an Olympic truce for the duration of the Olympics, a land truce, they will have an advantage,” Zelensky said, noting the risk that Russia could bring heavy equipment into Ukrainian territory without opposition. “We are against any truce that plays into the hands of the enemy,” he declared.
The Ukrainian leader also mentioned that he had directly expressed his concerns to Macron, stating, “Let’s be honest… Emmanuel, I don’t believe it… First of all, we don’t trust Putin.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin similarly dismissed the idea of an Olympic truce, pointing to the restrictions placed on Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Russian and Belarusian athletes will only be allowed to compete as individual neutral athletes (AINs), and their national teams are barred from Olympic team competitions.
Putin stated that while he believes the “Olympic principles, including the ‘Olympic truce’ are very right,” he argued that this wouldn’t be feasible due to the sanctions, which he claims violate the Olympic charter. He noted the IOC’s restrictions against Russian symbols and anthem during the games. “They are committing violations against us and demand fulfilment from us. Dear friends: we won’t get far that way. No one has ever come to an agreement that way,” he said.
In response, Russia and Belarus are planning to hold their own sports competition in September.
