Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have voiced their disapproval of a decision to prevent Volodymyr Zelenskiy from being able to address this year’s Eurovision.
The prime minister and the Labour leader were united in criticising the decision to block the Ukrainian president’s request to speak at Saturday evening’s grand final. They were joined in their opposition by the former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Zelenskiy intended to make an unannounced video appearance and was expected to implore the international audience to continue backing his country against Russia’s unprovoked invasion.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the event, said Zelenskiy had “laudable” intentions, but rejected the request over fears it could politicise the event.
Sunak said he was “disappointed” by the decision and that the values the Ukrainian president was fighting for “are not political, they’re fundamental”.
On Friday, his official spokesperson said: “The prime minister believes it would be fitting for President Zelenskiy to address the event and we’re disappointed by the decision from the European Broadcasting Union.
“The values and freedoms that President Zelenskiy and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they’re fundamental, and Eurovision themselves recognised that last year when they rightly suspended Russia’s participation from the competition.”
Starmer also waded into the row and agreed with his political opposite number that Zelenskiy should be allowed to speak at the contest.
In a statement, the Labour leader said: “It’s vital that we all continue to keep the plight of the Ukrainian people front of mind as they stand up to Russian aggression on behalf of us all.
“Eurovision is an expression of international unity and freedom, and President Zelenskiy should be able to address it as a great defender of both.”
Johnson, who was prime minister when Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine, said “it would have been right” to hear from Zelenskiy during the final.
The Liverpool city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, said he would be speaking to both the Ukrainian ambassador and the mayor of Lviv, who are both in Liverpool for the final, “to discuss what we can do to provide a platform” for Zelenskiy.
In a statement, he said: “For all the fun and frivolity of Eurovision, it is important to remember why this year’s contest is being held in Liverpool: because of Putin’s murderous war.
“Despite the EBU’s decision to deny President Zelenskiy the opportunity to address the millions who will be watching tomorrow’s [Saturday’s] final, Liverpool will always try to provide a voice to those promoting peace and justice.”
A spokesperson for No 10 suggested there were no plans to directly intervene and ask the organisers to change their minds.
Zelenskiy thanked the UK for hosting the event and expressed his gratitude for the donation of Storm Shadow long-range precision missiles in a conversation with the prime minister.
The BBC has said the broadcast of this year’s contest is expected to be watched by more than 160 million viewers worldwide.
The 10 countries that qualified from Tuesday’s semi-final were Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.
Poland, Australia, Cyprus, Albania, Estonia, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania, Armenia and Slovenia qualified from the second semi.
They will join the “big five” nations – the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain – who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event, and last year’s winners, Ukraine.
The Eurovision grand final on Saturday will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One.
PA Media contributed to this report
