MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian national football team will play against Ukraine in the 2016 UEFA European Championship knockout phase if the teams are drawn against each other, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Tuesday.
"There can be no politics at the [UEFA] Euro. If we get [Ukraine], we will play. No one will be separated," Mutko told reporters.
France will host the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer competition from June 10 to July 10.
Russia will play in Group B against England on June 11, Slovakia on June 15 and Wales on June 20, while Ukraine is in Group C, along with Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland. Russia and Ukraine could potentially meet in the round of 16 or at later stages of the tournament.
