Minister calls for negotiations: Ukraine wants to keep the ESC event

Ukraine clinched a phenomenal victory at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. However, the tradition that the winner may organize the next contest is no longer acceptable for the European Broadcasting Union. Another country should step in. Ukraine does not agree with this.

The Ukrainian government is resisting the decision not to hold the Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine next year. “Ukraine does not agree with the nature of the decision taken by the European Broadcasting Union,” said Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko. “We call for further negotiations to host Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine.”

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had previously announced that it would not hold the competition in this year’s ESC winning country Ukraine because of the Russian war of aggression. Instead, it is being examined whether second-placed Great Britain can step in as the host country.

“We demand that this decision be changed,” Tkachenko said. “Because we believe that we can fulfill all the commitments that we have made”. His country has so far “fulfilled all the conditions” and given “answers and guarantees on safety standards” to be able to host the next edition of the competition.

The EBU had stated that it had carried out a comprehensive assessment and feasibility study together with the Ukrainian broadcaster UA and experts. “In view of the current circumstances”, the UA is not in a position to fulfill the “security and operational guarantees” necessary for the orientation and organization of the ESC.

The EBU referred in particular to the necessary planning security. “The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most complex television productions in the world, with thousands of people working and taking part”. Therefore, twelve months of preparation time are normally necessary.

Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed and entire cities have been largely destroyed. About 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory is currently occupied by the Russian army, and many other areas are hit by Russian missile attacks on an almost daily basis.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from the audience, the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won the ESC final in mid-May with their song “Stefania”. Briton Sam Ryder, the jury’s favourite, came in second.