Boris sings out for Ukraine: UK PM Johnson says nation deserves to host Eurovision
- British prime minister, who has just been to Kyiv, says Ukraine, the winner of this year’s contest, ‘can have it’, ‘deserves to have it’, ‘should have it’ in 2023
- European Broadcasting Union ruled that 2023 event cannot take place in the war-torn country, but its public broadcaster wants more negotiations
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he hopes Ukraine will be able to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, saying the country’s people “deserve to have it”.
Britain’s BBC is in talks with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about hosting the event after the latter ruled it could not go ahead in the war-torn country as planned.
The UK was runner-up in the 2022 contest, while Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra swept to victory after a symbolic show of public support saw them soar to first place with 631 points.
Speaking to reporters in Britain after returning from an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Johnson said he believed it should be possible for the music contest to go ahead in Ukraine, despite the ongoing conflict with Russia.
“I have just been to Kyiv. I won’t say it is completely jiving and buzzing and popping but it is far, far more lively. People are much more confident. People are out in the streets eating in cafes and restaurants in a way that they weren’t even a few weeks ago,” he said.