Ukrainian President Wants Total Boycott of 2018 World Cup in Russia

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko

Mr. Poroshenko said this in an interview with the German media group Funke Mediengruppe.

"Yes, I would like a full-fledged boycott of the World Cup in Russia," the Ukrainian president said, noting that he is not a football fan.

According to Poroshenko, it is more important for him to impose "effective sanctions" against Russia.

"Do not believe those who claim that the sanctions are not achieving their goals," - the Ukrainian President added.

Previously, the Ukrainian football team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing to Croatia in the qualifying match with a score of 2:0. After that, Ukrainian politicians and officials increasingly called for a boycott of the World Cup in Russia.

Earlier, the British Foreign Office also announced its desire to boycott the World Cup in Russia. The agency explained that London planned such a move due to the "poisoning" of former intelligence colonel Sergei Skripal.