(Reuters) - Sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus over the war in Ukraine are non-negotiable, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.

The IOC's announcement came in response to comments by Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakhov welcoming any moves by the IOC to allow his country's athletes to participate in the Olympics as the IOC looks for ways to bring them back to the international stage.

Pozdnyakov said earlier on Tuesday: "There are certainly some attempts by the IOC to allow our athletes to participate in international competitions.

"Maybe the next Olympics, of course we very much welcome that," he said, warning of what he said were "additional conditions" that would be imposed on Russian athletes.