How have Ukrainians responded to Eurovision being hosted in the UK?

Kalush Orchestra pose onstage with the winner's trophy and Ukrainian flags after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Kalush Orchestra pose onstage with the winner's trophy and Ukrainian flags after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Copyright Marco Bertarello/AFP
By Theo FarrantAFP
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

How have Ukrainians responded to Eurovision being hosted in the UK?

ADVERTISEMENT

Britain says it has agreed reluctantly to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest after organisers declared there is no prospect of the event going ahead in war-torn Ukraine.

The BBC, the UK's public broadcaster, will instead produce the world's biggest live music event, taking in performers from across Europe and Central Asia as well as Israel and Australia, in a UK city yet to be determined.

“It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest,”said Tim Davie, the BBC's director general.

“The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.”

Ukraine's folk-rap group Klaus Orchestra won this year's contest, held in Italy, ahead of Britain's entry. For the past month, the country had insisted it could host next year's despite the Russian invasion.

But after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that out on security grounds, the government in Kyiv acquiesced to a UK-hosted event with a strongly Ukrainian flavour.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that after phone talks last week with President Volodymyr Zelensky, they, "agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine".

"As we are now hosts, the UK will honour that pledge directly - and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends," Johnson tweeted. 

The response to the news from residents in Kyiv appears to be mixed. 

Some disagree with the nature of the decision and believe more could be done to facilitate Ukraine hosting the contest. However, others believe that due to the continuing threat from Russia, the decision is the correct move and hosting the contest in Ukraine would be impracticable. 

Check out the video above to hear in full how Kyiv's residents responded to the news

Video editor • Theo Farrant

Share this articleComments

You might also like