Ukraine’s Culture Minister, Oleksandr Tkachenko demands that the EBU reverse its decision to hold Eurovision 2023 outside of Ukraine.

In a statement signed by Eurovision winners Ruslana and Oleh Psiuk (frontman of Kalush Orchestra) and Mykola Chernotytskyi, the director of state TV channel Suspilne, the minister called for further talks about hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine.

“Ukraine does not agree with the nature of such a decision – when we were confronted with the fact without discussion on other options. But we strongly believe that we have every reason to hold further negotiations in order to find a joint solution that will satisfy all parties.

We honestly won Eurovision and have fulfilled all the condition within the deadlines for the process of approving its holding in Ukraine — we have provided answers and guarantees on safety standards and possible venues for the competition.

Hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine is a strong signal to the whole world that it supports Ukraine now. We will demand to change this decision, because we believe that we will be able to fulfil all the commitments, as we have repeatedly [emphasized to] the European Broadcasting Union,” reads the statement.

Eurovision’s organizing body the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Ukraine will not host the 2023 contest. In a statement released on Friday 17 June, the EBU said that discussions will now begin with the United Kingdom.