There will be no video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest. This was decided by the organizer EBU in order to preserve the principle of a non-political ESC. Zelenskyy has “laudable intentions” but his request “regrettably” violates the rules, the EBU said.
In Kiev, however, Zelenskyy’s spokesman denied on Facebook that the presidential office had approached the EBU with such a request. The ESC is an international entertainment show, it was said when the broadcasting union was founded. The “non-political nature” of the event is an important cornerstone. “This policy prohibits the ability to make political or similar statements in the context of the competition.”
The BBC expects 160 million television viewers worldwide to watch the final. Ukraine should actually be hosting this year’s ESC after the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the competition in 2022. However, the EBU moved the show to the UK, which finished second in 2022 with Sam Ryder, because of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against the country.
The EBU again emphasized that Ukrainian music, culture and creativity will be honored, among other things, with the performance of eleven Ukrainian artists at the show. “We believe this is the best way to reflect and celebrate Ukraine’s victory at the Eurovision Song Contest and show that we are united through music in these difficult times,” the EBU statement said.
