President Zelensky prefers Poland or Slovakia to host Eurovision over the UK

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would have preferred a country bordering Ukraine to host this week’s Eurovision Song Contest rather than Britain.

Zelensky said that Poland or Slovakia would have been a better choice to host the singing competition because Ukrainian citizens would have been able to attend.

The UK stepped up to host this year’s Eurovision on behalf of the country after coming in second behind Ukraine, which won the competition last year.

The final of the competition is now scheduled to take place in Liverpool on Saturday after it became clear the war-torn country would not be able to host the event.

The Ukrainian president’s comments came despite news that the UK would supply the war-torn country with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to do so.

Britain’s Alesha Dixon (left) and Hannah Waddingham (right) will now host the competition from the Liverpool Arena on Saturday night along with Ukraine’s Julia Sanina (centre).

Ukrainian singer Mariya Yaremchuk (left) performs on stage during the second semi-final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest at the Liverpool Arena on May 11, 2023.

Zelensky told the BBC: “I have great respect for the UK and its society. It is an amazing country.

“From the beginning, my opinion has been that if we cannot organize Eurovision, then it should take place in one of the countries that share a border with us, like Slovakia, Poland or any other country that our people can easily reach.” Somewhere nearby.

‘The main thing is that the contest is taking place. Let people show their talent,’ he added, according to other reports.

After Ukrainian hip-hop band Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 final in Turin, Italy, national broadcaster UA:PBC said it would not be possible to stage the event.

Despite the winners of each year’s competition expected to host the following year, the state broadcaster said it would not be able to host the 67th edition for security reasons amid Russia’s attack on the country.

The BBC then offered its support to take the reins.

Britain’s Alesha Dixon and Hannah Waddingham will now host the competition from the Liverpool Arena on Saturday night alongside Ukraine’s Julia Sanina.

Zelensky’s comments came after Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament the UK would become the first country to provide long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.

Cruise missiles, accurate to more than 150 miles, will play a key role in the country’s long-awaited counteroffensive against the Russian occupiers.

At a cost of £2.2m, Ukraine will now have the machinery to attack Russian troops and logistics centers well behind the Russian front line. But the Ukrainian government has assured Britain that the missiles will only be used within the country’s sovereign territory.

The UK has agreed to supply Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to do so.

Members of the band ‘Kalush Orchestra’ pose on stage with the winner’s trophy and Ukrainian flags after winning the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine last year.

The news also comes as it was announced that Mr. Zelenksy would not be able to address the world at Eurovision.

The BBC and other broadcasters decided that an appearance by the Ukrainian president would be too “political.”

Organizers turned down a request by the Ukrainian president to make a surprise video appearance to urge the audience of 160 million to continue their support in the face of Russian aggression, according to The Times.

The European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of more than 100 broadcasters, rejected the president out of fear that his appearance could politicize the event.

A Union spokesperson said: ‘The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment spectacle and is governed by strict rules and principles that have been in place since its inception.

“As part of this, one of the cornerstones of the contest is the non-political nature of the event.”

‘This principle prohibits the possibility of making political or similar statements as part of the contest.

“Mr Zelensky’s request to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, although made with laudable intentions, unfortunately cannot be granted as it would be against the rules of the event.”

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