Ukraine: Ukraine on Tuesday criticized the International Olympic Committee's decision to lift its recommendations restricting Russian athletes, saying the move sends "a deeply concerning signal" to the international community.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed its disapproval on the US social media platform X, citing ongoing violence as the reason for their stance. 'Russia continues its unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine,' the ministry stated, emphasizing that civilians are killed, cities are destroyed, and international law is violated on a daily basis.

The Ukrainian government urged countries hosting international sporting events to prohibit the display of Russian state symbols on their territory. Additionally, the ministry called on international sports federations to uphold restrictions on Russian representatives, asserting Ukraine's commitment to ensure international sport "is never used as a tool to legitimize aggression."

Highlighting the core values of the Olympic Movement, the ministry remarked on the importance of addressing the issue of Russian state symbols at the Olympic Games with "utmost responsibility." They reiterated the principles of peace, respect for human dignity, and solidarity.

Earlier on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. The committee announced that its recommendations restricting the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions were no longer applicable.

In a statement, the committee's Executive Board explained that the decision was made after confirming that the Russian Olympic Committee 'no longer includes as its members any regional sports organizations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine."

The committee clarified that decisions regarding hosting events in Russia, inviting Russian officials, or allowing Russian national symbols at competitions remain at the discretion of international sports federations and event organizers. The suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee had been in place since Oct. 12, 2023, following its inclusion of sports bodies from Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine.