European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has strongly criticised the International Olympic Committee’s decision to readmit Russian athletes, describing the move as “blind to reality” and arguing that sport and culture should never be used to “whitewash aggression.”
Speaking last week, Kallas condemned the IOC’s decision, saying it came at a time when Russia was responsible for a record number of civilian deaths in Ukraine. She argued that allowing Russian athletes to return to international competition created the impression that the organisation was rewarding continued military aggression.
Her comments were made during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, where ministers discussed further measures against Russia, including the bloc’s 21st package of sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the latest sanctions, explaining that they target sectors expected to have the greatest impact, including energy, financial services, cryptocurrency and trade. She also confirmed that fisheries have been included for the first time and that former Russian combatants will be barred from entering the European Union.
Kallas also highlighted the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, warning that Russia could launch further attacks on the country’s power grid. She noted that the latest measures represented the ninth consecutive round of sanctions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council, describing the EU’s response as unprecedented in both speed and scale.
This is not the first time Kallas has criticised the IOC’s approach towards Russia. While serving as Estonia’s Prime Minister in 2023, she opposed the IOC’s plans to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral status, calling the proposal politically and morally wrong.
At the time, she argued that the international community should be increasing Russia’s isolation rather than easing restrictions, while insisting that sport forms part of Russia’s wider propaganda strategy.
Since becoming the EU’s High Representative in 2024, Kallas has maintained that position, with Estonia continuing to advocate for tougher measures against Russia.
Estonian Minister of Culture Heidy Purga recently revealed that her government is preparing a letter to the European Commission and European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef. The proposal calls for sports organisations that allow Russia and Belarus to return to international competition to lose access to Erasmus+ and other European Union funding programmes.
Micallef has also spoken out against Russia’s return to international sport. He joined several countries in boycotting the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games following Russia’s readmission.
Addressing the European Commission, Micallef warned that allowing Russia to use sport and culture while its military campaign continues sends a dangerous message, arguing that such decisions represent an attempt to use sport and culture to gain international legitimacy.
