The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has stated that he hopes Ukraine will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 and that they “deserve to” welcome the European competition to their soil next year.
Returning to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, from a visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Johnson told the awaiting British media that the streets of the Ukrainian capital were “lively” and shared his hope that in a year’s time the situation would be completely different.
🇺🇦🎙️ Boris Johnson has said Ukraine should host the next Eurovision despite the organisers preparing to hand it to the UK over safety fears amid the continuing warhttps://t.co/1TiBT9ieRP pic.twitter.com/46acfE2UmM
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 18, 2022
Boris Johnson told UK media on Saturday that “I know we had a fantastic entry, I know we came second and I’d love it to be in this country [the United Kingdom], but the fact is, they [Ukraine] won and they deserve to have it. I believe they can have it and I believe that they should have it”.
“I hope the European Broadcasting Union recognise that. This thing is a year away, it’s going to be fine by the time the Eurovision Song Contest comes round and I hope that the Ukrainians get it”.
Following concerns over the feasibility and security of Ukraine hosting the contest, the BBC were invited by the EBU on Friday to begin discussions to host in 2023 in the United Kingdom, following their runner-up finish in Turin with Sam Ryder’s “Space Man”. If the BBC were to agree to hosting the contest, it would be the first time since 1980 that the previous winning country did not host, and the first British hosting of the competition since 1998.
Meanwhile, a number of prominent Ukrainian artists including the winning trio of Jamala, Ruslana and Oleh Psiuk of Kalush Orchestra, and the head of the board of UA:PBC, Mykola Chernotytskyi, signed a statement from the broadcaster voicing their dissapointment with the EBU’s decision.
“We are disappointed with this decision of the EBU. During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfill the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country. Security is, of course, our first priority. The team of UA: PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options. It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations.”
Discussions are seemingly therefore ongoing in both Ukraine and the United Kingdom regarding next year’s contest – so we have the feeling this isn’t going to finish just yet!
Where should Eurovision 2023 be held? Ukraine or the United Kingdom? Share your thoughts with us on our forum HERE or join the discussion below and on social media!
