President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a surprise appearance at the 2022 edition of Grammy Awards.
The president, whose country is in the middle of a serious crisis, spoke via a remote video message.
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He urged the millions of viewers watching to support his country, in any way they could, during the Russian invasion.
Zelensky first introduced John Legend, who sang alongside Ukrainian artistes Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton.
The Ukrainian president said the war had cut short many lives and dashed the hope of many of his citizens.
“What is more opposite to Music. 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 killed and we’ll never see them drawing.
our parents are happy to wake up in the morning in boom 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. 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 love, to stand 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, 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.”
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