Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha has once again called on the Venice Biennale to reverse its decision and suspend Russia following the resignation of the jury and a change in the exhibition format, UNN reports.
We once again call on the Venice Biennale to change its decision and suspend Russia. There is still time to return to the principled position that the international art community has maintained since the very beginning of Russia's brutal full-scale war against Ukraine,
"Recent events surrounding the Venice Biennale 2026, in particular the jury's decision to resign, clearly demonstrate the consequences of the steps taken by leading international art platforms," Sybiha noted.
The Minister remarked that "the culture of the aggressor cannot be neutral during wartime." "It cannot be used to serve the interests of the aggressor, whitewash its crimes, or spread propaganda," he added.
"The timid decision to admit Russia was shameful from the very beginning. Today we see how it continues to damage the reputation of the Venice Biennale itself," the Foreign Minister emphasized.
Ukraine, according to him, "is grateful to everyone who, guided by moral responsibility and commitment to democratic values, refuses to tolerate this disgrace."
Addendum
The organizers of the Venice Biennale changed the format of the awards ceremony following the resignation of the international jury. As ArtDependence notes, "Russia and Israel are once again competing for the award."