Zelenskyy calls Paralympic Committee's decision 'dirty'

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics "dirty," as reported by the news channel Ukrinform.

The statement was made in a clip from his conversation with British journalist Piers Morgan, published on social media.

"I don't want to say it's about money, because I don't know that. But it's an absolutely dirty and undignified decision. And un-European, in terms of values. I think it's a terrible and unfair decision," Zelenskyy said, clarifying that he was referring to Europe in the context of its values.

The head of state admitted he had not been previously aware of the International Paralympic Committee's decision regarding Russian and Belarusian athletes and affirmed that Ukraine would respond to it.