Italy's Foreign Minister Criticizes Russia's Return to Venice Biennale

Italy's Foreign Minister described Russia's admission to the Venice Biennale as short-sighted, according to a report by Ukrainian news site UA.NEWS. The remark marks the first official Italian government reaction to the Biennale's decision to include Russia in the 2026 edition, which had been reported by international media earlier this year.

The Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious cultural exhibitions, excluded Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a move supported by many Western cultural institutions. The decision to readmit Russia has reopened debate over cultural engagement with Moscow during wartime. According to UA.NEWS, the foreign minister's comment signals that the Italian government views the readmission as diplomatically unwise, even though the Biennale operates autonomously as a foundation based in Venice.