This weekend's Eurovision Song Contest will have Ukrainian flags, Ukrainian musicians and Ukrainian fans – but not the country's wartime leader. 9News
Tvorchi of Ukraine performs during dress rehearsals at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
"The Office of the President of Ukraine did not address the organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest to offer online performance during the finals or at any other stage of the contest," he said on Facebook. He has spoken to legislatures around the world by video — and a few times in person — and appealed to crowds at the Glastonbury music festival, the Grammy Awards and the Berlin Film Festival.But he reportedly was denied permission to speak at the Academy Awards in March, and Ukraine says that FIFA, international soccer's governing body, also refused Zelenskyy's request to send a video message to the World Cup in November 2022.
"The values and freedoms that President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they're fundamental," Sunak spokesman Max Blain said. It will feature a performance by last year's Eurovision winner, Kalush Orchestra, and other Ukrainian performers, and images of Ukraine will be shown before each act performs.
Tens of thousands of music fans from across Europe have flocked to Liverpool, which won a competition among UK cities to host the contest.
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