On Friday, June 17, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, announced that Ukraine will not be able to host the international song contest in 2023.

According to a widespread statement, such a decision was made due to circumstances that do not allow to comply with all necessary security guarantees.

“After an objective analysis, the reference group and the Board of Governors of the Eurovision Song Contest have come to the conclusion with deep regret that in the current circumstances, the National Public Television and Radio Company of Ukraine is not able to provide the security conditions and operational guarantees provided for by the rules of the competition, which are necessary for the broadcaster to be able to organize and hold the Eurovision Song Contest," the EBU said in a statement.

It has become a tradition to host the competition in the country that won the previous Eurovision Song Contest, but the EBU emphasized that this is only possible if certain criteria are met, including the safety of all stakeholders.

“The European Broadcasting Union would like to thank the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine for the sincere cooperation and efforts it has made to explore all (possible. -

RT

) options for action in the weeks following the victory of the Kalush Orchestra on May 14 in Turin.

The Union shares the sadness and disappointment that next year's competition will not be able to take place in Ukraine,” the organizers of the event said.

Due to the current situation, the EBU has asked the UK to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 there, as a performer from this country took second place in the competition in Turin.

At the same time, the organizers of the competition clarified: “We are determined to make sure that the victory of Ukraine is reflected in the next year's show.

This task will be a priority in our discussions with those who will eventually become the organizers of the competition.”

The EBU also noted that Eurovision is one of the most complex television projects in the world, on which a huge number of people work, and it takes at least a year to prepare it.

  • Kalush Orchestra at Eurovision

  • AP

  • © Luca Bruno

Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra took first place at Eurovision 2022 with the song Stefania.

According to the sum of the audience voting and jury ratings, the artists received 631 points and left far behind the favorite of the judges - British artist Sam Ryder with the song Space Man (466 points).

The professional jury gave Ukraine 192 points, giving Kalush Orchestra the fourth place.

The team received the highest rating from judges from Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Romania.

The Ukrainian performer first performed at Eurovision in 2003, and the first victory for the country was brought by the singer Ruslana with the hit Wild Dances in 2004.

Another winner was Jamala.

In 2016, she performed the composition "1944", dedicated to the deportation of the Crimean Tatars.

Second places for Ukraine were secured by Verka Serduchka with the song Dancing Lasha Tumbai in 2007 and Ani Lorak with the song Shady Lady in 2008.

Third place in 2013 was taken by Zlata Ognevich with the song Gravity.