Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow will not comply with calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Summer Olympics, pointing to what he said was unfair treatment of Russian athletes.
Asked during a visit to China whether he supported French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of a global "Olympic Truce" during the Paris Games this summer, Putin replied: "I think these Olympic principles, including the Olympic Truce, are very true." "
But he added: "Today's international sports officials are not themselves subject to the principles of the Olympic Charter."
He accused sports organizations of “not allowing our athletes to perform at games with our banner, flag and our national music, our anthem.”
“They commit violations against us and demand compliance from us. Dear friends, we will not go that far. No one has ever agreed like this,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Friday his idea of an "Olympic truce for Russia to cease its current operations" in Ukraine.
Russia plans to host a rival sporting event in September after it was banned from participating in the Olympics along with ally Belarus over its invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Macron thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting the idea of a truce in all conflicts, including Ukraine, during the Paris Olympics.