MOSCOW, April 20Cultural relations between the Russian Federation and the United States and other Western countries will not be unfrozen in the near future, the West's policy in this direction is unreasonable, while Russia is open to cooperation, said Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation.
«Relations with the European Union, the United States, Western unfriendly countries, I do not think that they will be unfrozen. I do not see any prospects for something to change yet. Western cultural policy, from my point of view , not the most reasonable,» Shvydkoi said.
He noted that the sanctions imposed in 2022 have not been lifted, all Western cultural institutions are still prohibited from entering into relations with Russian state institutions.
“At the same time, in recent months we have seen that Western cultural figures, scientists, and even certain Western institutions are ready to cooperate with non-governmental organizations and personally with citizens,” Shvydkoy stressed.
According to the interlocutor of the agency, Russia is not closed from anyone, the country is open to cooperation. «But we emphasize that the dialogue in the humanitarian space must be depoliticized,» the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation added.