Belarusian tennis player Arina Sabalenka has for the first time clearly positioned herself against Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in an interview with Vogue. According to the BBC, which cited the interview, Sabalenka said: “Obviously I don’t support this war – no war. I want peace for everyone.” She called on the conflicting parties to return to the negotiating table: “They need to sit down and somehow sort it out.”
Sabalenka also expressed respect for the stance of Ukrainian athletes who refuse to shake hands after matches against Belarusians and Russians. “I completely understand that and have nothing against it,” said the 26-year-old. At the same time, she emphasized the connection between the two peoples: “Belarusians and Ukrainians are the same.” Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, when Belarus, as an ally of Russia, made its territory available for the invasion from the north, Sabalenka had repeatedly been confronted with questions about her stance on the war but had previously given evasive answers.
Source: www.bbc.com
