Russian cultural diplomacy in Germany: between promoting Russia and undermining Ukraine
A number of facts testify to Russia’s destructive influence abroad through disinformation or direct interference in the domestic politics of countries, alongside the financing of political forces. Yet, there is another less obvious (and therefore even more dangerous) Russian Trojan horse – the institutions of cultural diplomacy, which under the cover of culture promote the Kremlin’s agenda and anti-Ukrainian narratives. Despite the war, Germany still remains one of the most affected EU countries by Russian soft influence.
September 27, 2025 -
Maria Protsiuk
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AnalysisIssue 5 2025Magazine
From the theoretical point of view and practical approach of democratic states, cultural diplomacy is designed to shape a positive attitude towards one state among the public of another state through cultural means. In fact, this is a narrow, simplified definition of cultural diplomacy, which aims to promote mutual understanding and dialogue between two countries. However, such an explanation has nothing to do with the authoritarian approach to cultural diplomacy that Russia professes in the international arena.
In the Russian implementation, its state institutions of cultural diplomacy are not at all similar to their counterparts in other countries, such as the British Council, Goethe Institute, Cervantes Institute, Polish Institute, Ukrainian Institute and many others. Moreover, it is impossible to call these institutions as “peers” with the Russian cultural diplomacy institutions abroad. Instead, the activities of Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russkiy Mir Foundation as key state actors of Russian cultural diplomacy are not so much about promoting Russia through its cultural heritage and modern Russian culture, but about methods that are complementary to the Russian military capabilities. These serve to justify its aggressive foreign policy actions, including those in Ukraine since 2014.
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