Ukrainian Youth and Sports Minister Ihor Zhdanov has urged Ukrainian fans not to visit Russia for the 2018 World Cup, which will be held this summer.
“From the point of view of our national interests, we have done everything to ensure that the World Cup did not take place in Russia, but our possibilities are limited. We call on our fans not to go there,” Zhdanov said on the Priamy television channel on Feb. 9.
According to the minister, two years ago the whole world community was close to the decision to cancel the World Cup in Russia, but now it’s too late.
“When the trials of the former FIFA leadership and allegations of corruption started, I thought that this decision would be made, but now this campaign is over. I think this topic has been removed from the agenda,” he added.
Zhdanov also noted that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman, despite the invitation to attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, had decided to abandon the trip “due to the situation in Ukraine.”
