Zelensky Denied Opportunity to Speak at Eurovision Final

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request to deliver a video message during the Eurovision final, according to a report by Times, citing a representative of the association.

The EBU relocated the Eurovision 2023 event to Liverpool, UK, due to security concerns, following Ukraine's victory in the competition in 2022. Meanwhile, Ukraine's representative will automatically advance to the final, which is set to take place on May 13.

The EBU described Eurovision as an international entertainment show, which is fundamentally characterized by its non-political nature. “This principle prohibits political or similar statements within the framework of the competition. The request to speak to the Eurovision audience, although made with commendable intentions, unfortunately cannot be accommodated,” the statement read.