Position of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine on the termination of cultural dialogue with the aggressor

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy opposes any cultural dialogue with the aggressor. During the war, until the full withdrawal of troops, we emphasize the importance of cancellation of any cooperation with all russian state institutions in the field of culture and media, as well as with those representatives of the russian federation abroad who openly support the putin regime's war and who do not consider it necessary to express a clear position by silencing the war in Ukraine. 

In addition, we urge to refrain from cooperating in any projects with those

cultural figures who, in violation of Ukrainian law, crossed the borders of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories - Luhansk or Donetsk regions and Crimea. 

During the war, no russian-Ukrainian reconciliation through culture is possible. Under no circumstances. Any statements about "fraternal peoples" and common culture are only manipulative, which we at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy strongly urge to perceive as degrading the subjectivity of the Ukrainian people and its own cultural heritage. 

The Kremlin uses culture as a propaganda tool, following the example of the Nazis. Attempts now, during the active hostilities on our land, to give the floor to the representatives of the aggressor and Ukraine on the same platforms – is an attempt to level the horrors of war, legitimizing russian propaganda narratives about Ukraine. The participation of Ukrainian artists in joint projects with russians under the slogan "we are for peace" is an attempt to manipulate the real causes of the war in Ukraine unleashed by the putin regime. We emphasize that the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine does not support such formats of events. At the same time, we appeal to Ukrainian artists abroad to be the voice of their own Ukrainian culture on world stages and discussion platforms. 

At the same time, we note that we do not call for the isolation of those members of the russian cultural community who share democratic values, publicly condemn the war in Ukraine, call things by their names and say that political responsibility for aggression in Ukraine lies with the russian federation. Ukraine is the European state based on democratic values. However, the focus must not be shifted from reality: the hard struggle that the Ukrainian people have been waging for many years for their independence and identity, and the crimes that russia is currently committing against Ukrainians.