Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Grammys on Sunday, urging support for his country and asking the industry’s top artists to “fill the silence” brought on by the war with music.
Mr. Zelensky delivered his pre-taped message before John Legend’s performance of the song “Free”, which was joined by Ukrainian singer Mika Newton, composer Syuzana Iglidan and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.
“What’s the opposite of music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,” said Mr. Zelensky.
“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing for the wounded in hospitals, even for those who can’t hear them. But the music will break anyway.”
“We defend our freedom to live, to love, to have a voice,” he said.
“On our soil, we are fighting Russia, which brings with its bombs the eerie silence. Dead silence. Fill the silence with your music, fill it to tell our story today.”
His appearance at the biggest night of music in the United States comes as a global outcry over allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, with the discovery of mass graves and corpses in cities near Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky has directly blamed the leaders for the “torture” and “murders” of civilians in Moscow.
He said in his Grammy message, “Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way – none, but silence.” “And then peace will come.”
“War is destroying for all our cities- Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others: they are already legends, but they have a dream to live, and be free.”
“Free Like You, On The Grammy Stage.”