“Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died.”
Last night saw the 64th Annual Grammy Awards honour the best and brightest in the music industry, but one of the most talked about moments was when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared via video link to issue a statement on Russia’s invasion of his country.
In his speech, he spoke about the horrors of war, and the damage that’s been done to Ukraine and the harm inflicted upon the Ukrainian people. He addressed the Ukrainian cities that have already been destroyed, describing them as “legends already”. Zelensky also called upon the media to “tell the truth” about the invasion, and to support Ukraine in any way they can.
He said: “The war. What’s more opposite than music.
“The silence of ruined cities and killed people. Our children drew swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died. And we will never see them drawing.”
Zelensky appeared at #GRAMMYs. In his prerecorded speech he called artists to spread the truth about the war in #Ukraine.
“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those who can’t hear them”.pic.twitter.com/L5sjMeWQj2
— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) April 4, 2022
He went on: “The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence. Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded. In hospitals.”
President Zelenksy then said that the music of Ukraine will “break through anyway”, and spoke about his country’s freedom to “live, to love, to sound”.
He then said: “Tell the truth about war. On your social networks. On TV. Support us in any way you can. Any. But not silence.
“And then peace will come. To all our cities the war is destroying. Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others. They are legends already. But I have a dream of them living. And free. Free like you on the Grammy stage.”
After his speech, John Legend was joined by Ukrainian musicians Mika Newton, Lyuba Yakimchuk and Siuzanna Igidan who performed a rendition of Free.
