Fifa chief calls for Ukraine ceasefire during Qatar World Cup
Nusa Dua, Indonesia, Nov 15 (EFE).- Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday called for a ceasefire in Ukraine for the duration of the 2022 World Cup, which is due to kick off in Qatar in a week.
“My plea to all of you, to think on a temporary ceasefire for one month for the duration of the World Cup, or at least the implementation of some humanitarian corridors or anything that could lead to the resumption of dialogue as a first step to peace,” the chief of football’s world governing body told global leaders at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
“You’re the world leaders, you have the ability to influence the course of history. Football and the World Cup are offering you and the world a unique platform of unity and peace all over the world,” the he added.
Russia is currently suspended from competing at the Qatar World Cup following its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine failed to qualify for the competition due to run from November 20 until December 18.
United States president Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping are the most high-profile leaders at the two-day G20 summit which ends Wednesday, while Russia is represented by its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
Connecting to the summit via videoconference, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday set out his country’s list of 10 conditions for peace, which spanned the full withdrawal of Russian forces, the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity to guarantees on energy and justice.
“I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped,” he said.
Moscow’s spokesman Dmitri Peskov responded to Zelensky, claiming his words confirmed that Ukraine does not want to negotiate peace. EFE
sh-grc/ch/jt
