According to the Russian Kommersant, Italian Ambassador to Russia Giorgio Starace was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. As explained in the department, this is due to the cancellation of the performances of several Russian performers. In the Russian Foreign Ministry, the actions of the Italian authorities were considered a manifestation of a tendency to discriminate against Russian artists and limit cultural interaction between the two countries.

“The ambassador was told that Russia remains open to dialogue in the field of culture and does not intend to impose restrictions on cultural figures from Italy, of course, if the Italian side observes the conditions of equality and reciprocity in the implementation of relations in this area,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. RF.

About what Russian performers in question, the department did not specify. However, on February 8, it became known that concerts by Russian pianist Denis Matsuev were canceled in the Italian cities of Bergamo and Brescia. Activists of the Arts Against Aggression organization insisted on this. They are also seeking the cancellation of the concert of opera singer Anna Netrebko at the Teatro Petrarca in Arezzo.

• Recall that Italy and France agreed to transfer the SAMP / T anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) to Ukraine. According to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, weapons can be deployed within the next two months.

• Also, recently, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni allowed sending fighter jets to Ukraine. She stated that everything depends on the balance of the international community in this matter.

• On February 16, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that Rome would provide funds for nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons in the sixth aid package for Ukraine.