"Great Russian culture cannot be cancelled no matter what wars its leaders embark on, President Sergio Mattarella said ahead of the La Scala Premiere of Boris Godunov Wednesday, where he was given a standing ovation by the public. Speaking at a dinner with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the premiere, the Italian head of State gave his views on a row about putting on a Russian opera amid the Ukraine war and potentially handing a propaganda victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin."
