Key facts
- Finland's foreign ministry is drafting amendments to limit Russian athletes' entry, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on November 6, 2026.
- Valtonen said the changes are being prepared "on a tight schedule" after a government meeting with President Alexander Stubb.
- Finnish rules still exempt Russian citizens entering for sports contests, ministry official Jussi Tanner told Helsingin Sanomat.
- Several countries vowed to boycott the Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns, and Canada's Mark Carney said Russian athletes would not take part in a junior championship there.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on countries to bar Russian athletes' entry to stop Moscow using sport to whitewash its reputation.
- One EU official told the Kyiv Independent the Commission could propose its 22nd sanctions package as soon as November 11, centered on Russian athletes.
Finland's foreign ministry is preparing amendments to its entry rules that would limit Russian athletes from entering the country, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on November 6, 2026. Valtonen wrote on social media that the changes are being drafted "on a tight schedule," after a meeting between the Finnish government and President Alexander Stubb. "Russia must end its war of aggression in Ukraine," she said.
The move follows a ruling by the world's top court for sport that Russia must be allowed to return to international ice hockey tournaments. The decision drew criticism from several countries where the sport is most popular. Several countries vowed to boycott the Ice Hockey World Championship if Russia returns, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russian athletes would not participate in a junior championship set to take place in Canada.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on countries to bar the entry of Russian athletes specifically, arguing that participation would let Moscow use sport to whitewash its reputation.
Finland, along with several other EU countries, stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finnish rules still include an exemption allowing Russian citizens to enter for sports contests, foreign ministry official Jussi Tanner told the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. Tanner confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat that proposed changes are being drawn up.
Valtonen is one of the EU's strongest advocates for a total travel ban on Russia and published an open letter in October calling for one. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in October that her team would look into new measures to block Russia's return to international sports. One EU official told the Kyiv Independent that the European Commission could propose its 22nd sanctions package as soon as November 11, with restrictions on Russian athletes as its centerpiece.