The IOC has announced that "currently there are no plans for another visit to Ukraine" in response to Zelenskyy’s offer.

Zelenskyy invited Bach to Bakhmut to "see with his own eyes that neutrality does not exist" after the IOC confirmed that it was looking to explore a pathway to reintegrate athletes from Russia and Belarus under a neutral banner.

Bakhmut is at the epicentre of the war as Russian troops aim to seize control of the city which has been a key battlefield in Ukraine’s resistance.

Zelenskyy’s invitation to Bach came in a video address where he stressed that "any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood".

Bach last visited Ukraine in July 2022 where he met Zelenskyy and discussed the restoration of sporting infrastructure in the war-torn country.

The IOC said Bach had since spoken to Zelenskyy on the phone but were no imminent plans to return to Ukraine.

"The IOC President visited Ukraine in summer 2022 at the invitation of the NOC [National Olympic Committee]," a statement from the IOC read.

"During this visit, he met athletes who are impacted by the war, he witnessed destroyed sports infrastructure and he also met President Zelenskyy for an extensive discussion.

"After this visit they also exchanged via phone.

"Currently there are no plans for another visit to Ukraine."

Ukrainian figure skater Dymtro Sharpar was recently killed aged 25 during fighting in Bakhmut.

Volodymyr Androshchuk, a 22-year-old track and field athlete who was a member of the Ukrainian national team, also died in battle last week.

The IOC claimed it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths of the athletes and extended its "most sincere condolences to their families and friends and the Ukrainian people".

"The IOC took a very strong stance against the war, strongly condemning it, issuing sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian States and Governments hours after it started on 24 February 2022," the IOC added.

"The IOC firmly stands with this crystal clear position.

"And this position is guided by the solidarity with the Olympic Community of Ukraine, which the Olympic Movement has supported since the very beginning of the war and will continue to do so."

Ukraine’s Sports Vadym Guttsait has recently warned that his country will consider boycotting Paris 2024 if Russia and Belarus are present.

A growing number of European nations have also expressed their opposition to the possible reintroduction of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk reportedly said that "Poland and Britain are at the forefront" of efforts to create a coalition against the participation of Russia and Belarus at Paris 2024 and claimed that countries "may issue an ultimatum" should they compete.

The IOC said it was "extremely regretful to this discussion with a threat of a boycott at this premature stage" and insisted that history has proven that boycotts "did not achieve their political ends".

"The participation of individual, neutral athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has not been discussed yet," the IOC added.

"It is also important to note that all other NOCs are following the principles of the Olympic Charter, including those whose athletes are impacted by conflicts and wars in their territory.

"Despite the immeasurable human suffering caused by the far too many wars around the world today, none of the other NOCs are questioning their commitment to the Olympic principles and to the unifying mission of the Olympic Movement.

"These other NOCs, also impacted by conflicts and wars, never call the participation of their athletes in international sports competitions into question.

The IOC warned that Ukraine would be in violation of the Olympic Charter if they boycotted Paris 2024. 

"Threatening a boycott of the Olympic Games, which the NOC of Ukraine is currently considering, goes against the fundamentals of the Olympic Movement and the principles it stands for," they said. 

"A boycott is a violation of the Olympic Charter, which obliges all NOCs to 'participate in the Games of the Olympiad by sending athletes'.

"As history has shown, previous boycotts did not achieve their political ends and served only to punish the athletes of the boycotting NOCs."

The Olympic Council of Asia said it "remains on standby" to welcome Russian and Belarusian athletes to events including the delayed Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

The European Olympic Committees, Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, Panam Sports and the Association of National Olympic Committees have expressed their support for the IOC stance on Russian and Belarusian participation.