Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards Sunday evening in an appeal to the West for cultural support amid his country’s war with Russia.
The wartime leader appeared at the awards show in a prerecorded video message, which Variety reported was recorded in the last 48 hours. “The war — what’s more opposite to music?” he asked at the start before telling of the horrors of the conflict.
#WATCH: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky makes appearance at the #Grammys urging people to talk about the war on social media and through music. pic.twitter.com/evihelxHDO
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 4, 2022
“The silence of ruined cities and killed people. Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured, and 153 children died and we’ll never see them drawing,” he continued, reminding the audience of the toll Russia’s unprovoked invasion had taken on the country. “Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning in bomb shelters but alive. Our loved ones don’t know if we will be together again. The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence.”
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Zelensky noted that citizens of all stripes had taken to battle to protect their motherland, saying, “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded, in hospitals, even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through anyway. We defend our freedom — to live, to love, to sound.”
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Turning to what entertainers could do, Zelensky urged those watching to make art out of his country’s tragedy and voice their continued support to their fans.
“On our land, we are fighting Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can, but not silence,” he said, “And then peace will come.”
Russia invaded Ukraine in late February and has thus far turned millions of women and children into refugees fleeing the violence. The bloodshed has also already killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians and an unknown number of Russians. Numerous efforts at peace talks have failed, and Ukraine has united in its resolve to fight the continued invasion, though it is unclear how long the country will be able to keep Russian forces from taking any major cities.
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Zelensky’s video appeared ahead of a live performance by John Legend. Images of the conflict were broadcast as Legend performed his song “Free.” Lyuba Yakimchuk, a poet from the severely jeopardized Donbas region, recited some words, which included, “Protect my motherland.”
