Cyprus News Agency

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed World Athletics' decision to maintain the ban on Russian track and field athletes from international competitions and expressed his gratitude to the organisation's leadership.

In a post on social media, Sybiha said that together with Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, they conveyed Ukraine's appreciation to World Athletics and its President Sebastian Coe for maintaining the ban on Russian athletes.

Sybiha argued that as Russia continues its attacks against Ukraine, the decision represents "moral clarity and a commitment to the fundamental values of sport."

He said Sebastian Coe had demonstrated a principled stance and that sport should not be allowed to become a tool for legitimising Russia's aggression.

Sybiha also called on the international sporting community to take a united stand against any attempts to legitimise, normalise or whitewash Russia's war policy through sport.