OREANDA-NEWS. Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his speech at the ceremony on the occasion of the nomination of candidates for the national film award "David di Donatello" urged not to mix culture and politics, RIA Novosti reports.

“Due indignation and condemnation, of course, cannot relate to culture, to the great spiritual forces of the past and their works, which have given so much to the civilization of the whole world. It would be difficult and counterproductive for our Italy and our Europe,” Mattarella said about the attitude towards Russian culture against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis.

According to him, culture forms bridges between peoples, allows them to form and establish relationships, despite the actions of politicians of certain countries.

“Culture does not stop. Even in the face of war. Culture unites. It transcends borders <...> and is fundamental to recreating the conditions of peace," the Italian president added.

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, stated that it was “impossible to abolish Russian culture abroad.”