The Biennale's organizers announced last week that Russia will be allowed to participate in the prestigious art exhibition, which opens on May 9.
The organizers said the exhibition is an "open institution that rejects all forms of exclusion or censorship of art".
The decision sparked widespread criticism, including from Italy's Ministry of Culture, The Guardian writes.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna said in a statement that they found the biennial's changed position "incomprehensible" given previous condemnation.
