Ukrainian diplomats help cancel Russian-rooted pianist’s performance in the Netherlands
Ukrainian diplomats successfully intervened to cancel the performance of Austrian pianist Elizaveta Leonskaya, which was scheduled for 4 December 2025 at the Muziekgebouw concert hall in Eindhoven.
The decision was prompted by Leonskaya’s previous performances in Russia after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which drew outrage from Ukrainian representatives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stressed that culture should not be used as a tool for the propaganda of war crimes.
According to officials, the decision to cancel the concert was not taken lightly but was made in accordance with VSCD recommendations, which state that artists from Russia or Belarus may perform only if they do not support the war against Ukraine.
Although Leonskaya holds Austrian citizenship, she has previously performed on stage with artists who support the aggression, raising concerns about the appropriateness of her concerts in the Netherlands.
The Ukrainian Embassy and civil society organizations have pledged to continue monitoring such events and will work to prevent similar performances in other Dutch cities in 2026.
