Eurovision: Ukraine's Zelensky should address contest, says Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is "disappointed" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been barred from addressing this year's Eurovision, his spokesperson says.

The organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), accidental it would breach their governmental impartiality,

But Downing Street said it would beryllium "fitting" for Mr Zelensky to talk fixed Russia's penetration of his country.

Labour person Sir Keir Starmer is besides calling for the Ukrainian person to beryllium allowed to marque a speech.

Ukraine was meant to beryllium hosting this year's Eurovision, but it is taking spot successful Liverpool alternatively aft Russia's penetration past year.

It has been reported that Mr Zelensky wanted to marque a video quality astatine the contest's last connected Saturday, to an expected planetary assemblage of 160 million.

But successful a connection connected Thursday, the EBU said it had turned down a petition from the Ukrainian president to code the event, contempt his "laudable intentions".

"The Eurovision Song Contest is an planetary amusement show, and governed by strict rules and principles," it added.

"As portion of these, 1 of the cornerstones of the contention is the non-political quality of the event. This rule prohibits the anticipation of making governmental oregon akin statements arsenic portion of the contest."

However, Mr Sunak's spokesperson questioned the determination connected Friday, saying: "The values and freedoms that President Zelensky and the radical of Ukraine are warring for are not political, they're fundamental".

However, helium added that the premier curate had nary plans to intervene and inquire broadcasters to alteration their mind.

In a written statement, Labour person Sir Keir Starmer said: "It's captious that we each proceed to support the plight of the Ukrainian radical beforehand of caput arsenic they basal up to Russian aggression connected behalf of america all.

"Political and nationalist solidarity remains indispensable arsenic we proceed to enactment to guarantee we are doing each we tin to enactment the Ukrainian radical and particularly their brave men and women successful uniform.

"Eurovision is an look of planetary unity and freedom, and President Zelensky should beryllium capable to code it arsenic a large defender of both."

The EBU initially said it would let Russia to enactment successful the 2022 final, pursuing its penetration of Ukraine 2 months earlier it was owed to beryllium held successful Italy.

But it past changed people wrong 24 hours, saying that allowing Russia to instrumentality portion would "bring the contention into disrepute".

UA:PBC, Ukraine's nationalist broadcaster, arsenic good arsenic those from Iceland, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands, had called for Russia to beryllium banned.

Boris Johnson, who was British premier curate during Russia's penetration and oversaw the UK's archetypal response, said "it would person been close to hear" from him during the last connected Saturday.

He initially tweeted that helium should talk later, erstwhile the 2nd semi-final is owed to beryllium held, earlier changing the date.