FIFA has reportedly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to share a message of world peace which he had planned to broadcast before kickoff at the World Cup final on Sunday.
Zelensky offered to appear in a video, speaking to fans in the stadium ahead of the game in Qatar.
‘We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good,’ said a source speaking to CNN, adding that Zelensky’s office was surprised by the negative response.
MailOnline has reached out to clarification from FIFA but did not receive a reply prior to publication.
FILE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to appear in a video speaking to fans ahead of Sunday’s final, but CNN reports that FIFA rebuffed his request
FILE: FIFA has not yet given a reason for reportedly denying Zelensky’s request. President Gianni Infantino is pictured speaking to media during the Press Conference ahead of the Third Place and Final matches of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Main Media Center on December 16.
Talks between Zelensky and FIFA are still underway, CNN said, meaning a message may still be agreed ahead of Sunday’s game between Argentina and France.
The Ukrainian President has spoken at many of the largest events in the world in order to garner support for the country’s defence against Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24 this year.
Zelensky appearances include the Group of 20 Nations summit to the Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival.
He has also appeared alongside several celebrities and journalists, including Sean Penn, David Letterman, and Bear Grylls most recently.
Zelensky, pictured speaking via video link to the European Commission on December 13, has appeared at the Group of 20 Nations summit, the Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival
The news came after Russia unleashed a series of devastating missile salvoes against Ukraine, knocking out key infrastructure and burying civilians under rubble.
Virtually every major city was targeted in Friday’s strike with explosions reported in the capital Kyiv, second city Kharkiv, and Kryvyi Rih — in the centre of the country — where an apartment building was hit with people feared trapped.
Two people died in the initial blast, early reports suggested, with eight others – including a three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl, hurt.
Several other people, including a young child, may be buried in the building.
Russia has been targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine after failing to win victory on the battlefield, killing non-combatants and bombing national-grid infrastructure to freeze the country into submission.
Putin is aiming to spark a fresh refugee crisis by intensifying attacks over winter.
Smoke rises from the rubble of a house in Kryvyi Rih after it was struck by a Russian missile early Friday during another mass bombardment of the country
The ruins of a hotel in the Ukrainian city of Kherson are pictured after Russia launched missiles at almost every major city across the country
Vinnytsia, in west-central Ukraine, the central city of Poltava, the southern port hub of Odesa, and the northern Sumy region were also targeted — with blackouts of both energy and internet reported.
Andrii Osadchuk, a Ukrainian MP, said approximately 70 missiles were fired on Friday.
Some 40 of those were aimed at Kyiv alone, according to the Kyiv Independent, of which 37 were reportedly shot down.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian air forces said Russian TU-95 nuclear-capable bombers launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles from over Russian territory at Ukraine’s cities.
Kalibre missiles were also launched from warships and submarines in the Black Sea, along with Tu-22 bombers and Su-35 jets fired Kh-59 cruise missiles.
S-300 rockets, traditionally used for air defence but can also attack ground targets, also took part in the attack.
There was no immediate word on casualties and it was not clear exactly what critical infrastructure had been hit.
Russia unleashed another salvo of missiles against Ukraine, targeting virtually every major city and its key infrastructure (pictured, people shelter in Kyiv)
Civilians are pictured taking shelter inside a metro station during air raid alert in the centre of Kyiv, as Russian unloads dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure
By TOM BROWN
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