Denmark calls on Putin to stop bombing Ukrainian culture

That is according to Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, who is hosting an informal meeting of EU culture ministers in Copenhagen on Monday, Ukrinform reports.

"Today all the European countries gather in Denmark with the purpose of supporting the Ukrainian Recovery Fund. I am very happy that, together with the Netherlands, Denmark is taking the first step, pledging financial support to the cultural recovery of Ukraine," the minister said.

He added that in doing so, Denmark is sending a clear message to Vladimir Putin: "Stop bombing culture."

Engel-Schmidt stressed that if Russia continues to destroy Ukrainian culture, Denmark intends to help Ukraine rebuild what has been lost.

"I hope to persuade my colleagues to do the same as Denmark and the Netherlands are doing, pledging clear and specific financial support to the cultural recovery of Ukraine," he said.

An informal meeting of European culture ministers is taking place today in Copenhagen, with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, attending as an invited guest.

Earlier, Berezhna stated that culture cannot be financed on a leftover basis, as it is a matter of national security and Ukrainian resilience.

Illustrative photo: flickr/Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU