FIFA snubbed Zelensky offer for World Cup final

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
16 Dec 2022 15:58
1 Shares

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office calls FIFA to offer to give a speech at the World Cup final, only to be rebuffed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Reuters)

A request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to share a message of world peace prior to kickoff at the World Cup final on Sunday has been rebuffed by FIFA, a source told CNN.

The source said Zelensky’s office was offering to appear in a video link to fans in the stadium in Qatar, ahead of the game and was surprised by the negative response.

“We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good,” the source said.

Talks between Ukraine and FIFA are still underway, according to the source.

Zelensky secures additional $1.1 bn for Ukraine war

The West pledged an additional $1.1 billion in essential supplies to war-devastated Ukraine. This cash will allegedly enable “the nation to fend against Russia's assault on its electricity grid”.

Some 70 nations and international organizations met in Paris to help Ukrainians "get through this winter," French President Emmanuel Macron said. In a video message, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine's devastating energy sector urgently needed the assistance of about 800 million euros.

"Of course, it is a very high amount, but the cost is less than the cost of a potential blackout," Zelensky told the conference via video link.

The US is spending roughly $130 million to arm Ukraine daily, in addition to funds spent on economic and other assistance, prompting current and former US officials to warn that Washington needs to take more action to ensure that the equipment and funds sent to Kiev actually make it to the country, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in June.