Russia's return to global sport gathers momentum as EU considers response The EU is working on how to prevent Russia from whitewashing its reputation through international sporting events, but as it speaks, Moscow is creating new facts on the ground. "Sports and culture must not become vehicles for covering up Russian aggression," top EU diplomat Kaja Callas told reporters on October 13. But since then, there have been at least two instances where Russia has been able to advance its sporting agenda. Photo: Tatyana Makaeva / AFP via Getty Images.

Russia's return to global sport gathers momentum as EU considers response The EU is working on how to prevent Russia from whitewashing its reputation through international sporting events, but as it speaks, Moscow is creating new facts on the ground. "Sports and culture must not become vehicles for covering up Russian aggression," top EU diplomat Kaja Callas told reporters on October 13. But since then, there have been at least two instances where Russia has been able to advance its sporting agenda. Photo: Tatyana Makaeva / AFP via Getty Images.