In front of a jam-packed M&S Bank Arena and 150 million viewers, Volodymyr already imagined himself delivering a message to the united Europe as a whole. He won’t be able to. “Mr. Zelensky’s request to address the public at the Eurovision Song Contest, although made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted as it would break the rules of the event”said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the competition from which Russia has been excluded since 2021.
Victorious last year, Ukraine had to give up organizing the event, the fault of a crystallized conflict which continues to devastate the country. It is therefore England and Liverpool who have the task this year of hosting and organizing Eurovision in place of the last winner. The final, which will be held on Saturday and will see 26 countries compete, provides a strong tribute to Ukraine, with the presence of eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including Kalush Orchestra, last year’s winner, said the EBU. However, due to a formal regulation in this regard, President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to speak via video message. “One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the competition.explained the EBU.
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A reaction of the committee which may surprise insofar as Eurovision has always carried – behind the kitsch songs and the sequins – real geopolitical issues and political messages in the subtext. Ukraine’s victory in 2022 was itself not insignificant and came to support the country in the face of the invasion of Vladimir Putin’s troops.
If Zelensky will not be entitled to an intervention, video clips broadcast during the evening will allow viewers to view different places in the country at war since February 24, 2022. The city of Liverpool has also unveiled a monument “symbol of hope” for Ukraine, an aluminum statue representing a man holding a book from which escapes a dove with a Ukrainian flag. The work must remain at Strawberry Field, before being sent to Ukraine upon the return of peace.
