Tsiskaridze expressed hope for the restoration of cultural dialogue between Russia and the United States.

Cultural relations between Russia and the United States can be improved. This was stated on June 4 by People's Artist of the Russian Federation Nikolai Tsiskaridze, answering a question from Izvestia correspondent Anton Zolotnitsky on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026).

Tsiskaridze commented on the visit of Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, to Russia. The artist was pleased to learn that the foreign guest himself expressed a desire to come.

"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 also shared a joke he told Cook. Even in his youth, the artist, answering the question why Russian ballet is better, said: "Because the Russian ballet is older than the United States as a state." Tsiskaridze added that they had a laugh with this story.

Young and different: Putin will award opera soloists and Tabakov Theater star

The laureates will receive a diploma, a badge of honor and a monetary reward of five million rubles.

Earlier in the day, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said at the Russia—USA: Dialogue of Cultures session at the SPIEF that reviving cultural exchanges between Moscow and Washington remains a constant task, provided equal and depoliticized cooperation. According to her, until recently, Russian and American cultural figures have implemented a large number of joint projects. They discussed student creative exchanges, artist tours, cooperation in the field of architecture and the preservation of cultural heritage sites.