On February 25, Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga expressed support for the Italian government’s position to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Paralympic Games in Milan. He thanked the head of the Italian Ministry of Sport Andrea Abodi for “a voice of reason, truth, and common sense”.

Sibiga stressed that restrictions against athletes from Russia and Belarus were introduced in response to the aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a grave violation of international law.

“Since then nothing has changed. The aggression, atrocities and terror continue. What grounds are there for easing the restrictions? There are none,” the minister asked.

– The Minister

Global centers’ reaction and the IPC’s position

Sibiga reiterated Ukraine’s call to refrain from participating in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games if the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian symbols is not reversed.

“Thank you again to Italy for supporting our shared principles, a clear moral stance, and the excellent organization of this year’s Olympic Games,” added Sibiga.

Italian Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi on February 25 confirmed his criticism of the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under flags at the Milan Games. According to the committee, six Russians and four Belarusians will be allowed to participate under national flags. The statement also noted that these athletes will have “the same treatment as representatives of any other country”.

“According to the committee, these athletes will have ‘the same treatment as representatives of any other country’.”

– International Paralympic Committee

The Italian government expressed strong disagreement with the decision to allow participation by athletes from Russia and Belarus in the 2026 Milan Paralympics under their flags. In a statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani (Tayani) and the Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, there was also a call for the International Paralympic Committee to reconsider this decision.

The Winter Paralympic Games will run from March 6 to 15. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, at the Olympic Games Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete only as neutral athletes.