Putin orders "aggressive" actions against hockey rivals

Russia has begun "aggressive" diplomatic and legal actions, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, against countries opposing its return to international ice hockey tournaments, according to Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarov. Several European hockey nations and Canada have expressed disappointment over the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to reinstate Russia, with Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Norway, Denmark, and Latvia refusing to play against Russia. Canada is planning a visa ban for Russian players, while Degtyarov threatened Canada could lose its hosting rights. Russia has been banned from all major ice hockey events since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The CAS ruling calls for Russia's return starting with the under-20 World Championships, and the International Olympic Committee has already allowed Russian athletes to compete in the 2028 and 2030 Olympics.