March 17. /TASS/. Germany hasn't considered boycotting the World Cup due in 2018 in Russia as implementation of the Minsk agreements on settlement of the Ukrainian conflict are of primary importance at the moment, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Poroshenko on Monday called on his country's allies to consider boycotting the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia over the crisis in Ukraine’s south-east.

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) commented on the situation saying a boycott of sports competitions is not an effective way of solving political problems.

"History has often proved that a boycott of political competitions or politics of isolation are not an effective way to resolve such problems," the press service said.

Russia won the bid to host the Cup over three years ago in a tight race against the joint bid from England, Portugal and Spain and the combined bid by Belgium and The Netherlands.

World Cup matches will take place at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15, 2018.