A ceasefire in Ukraine was requested by the president of the international soccer body, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 towards the 2022 World Cup which will begin in a few days from November 20th in Qatar.
At the Group of 20(G-20) meeting in Indonesia, Gianni Infantino addressed the heads of states, saying, “We are not naïve to believe that football can solve the world’s problems”, “maybe the current World Cup starting in five days can really be that positive trigger.”
He urged the world leaders to “think on a temporary ceasefire for one month for the duration of the FIFA World Cup.”
“Or anything that could lead to the resumption of dialogue as a first step to peace,” the FIFA President continued . “You are the world leaders; you have the ability to influence the course of history.”
Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin began an invasion of Ukraine in late February which has stretched on for nearly nine months with no apparent conclusion in sight despite rising Russian casualties, Russia was expelled from the 2022 World Cup.
Although the administration of the U.S President, Joe Biden claims it won’t try to push Ukraine to the negotiating table, the U.S is said to have secretly pressed Ukraine to demonstrate its willingness to peace talks.
At the G-20 summit, Infantino made a statement saying “Football and the FIFA World Cup are offering you and the world a unique platform of unity and peace all over the world,”
“So let’s take this opportunity to do everything we can to start putting an end to all conflicts.”
The idea mirrored the goals of the “Olympic Truce”, a United Nations-supported modern revival of the custom from ancient Greece, to end hostilities and provide safe passage to the games.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, who spoke to the G-20 summit via video link, was unsure whether or not himself or the country’s citizens would accept a ceasefire. He demanded that all Russian forces leave the country and that Ukraine reclaim its territories.
Author-Roberta Appiah
