Héloïse Goy, with Alexis Patri
The Ukrainian president spoke remotely at the 64th Grammy Awards, which took place overnight from Sunday to Monday. Volodymyr Zelensky urged his audience to fight the “silence” that Russia is trying to impose on his country through war and the destruction of civilian settlements.
After the parliaments of a large number of Western countries, it is the world of culture that Volodymyr Zelensky seems to want to address so that the fate of his country does not disappear from the news. The Ukrainian president thus intervened in Los Angeles on the night of Sunday to Monday during the 64th Grammy Awards ceremony. He spoke from a distance just before the performance of John Legend who interpreted his title Free. Viewers were able to see Volodymyr Zelensky’s face appear on their screens in his usual khaki t-shirt.
“What is the exact opposite of music? The silence of ruined cities and slain people. Our musicians wear bulletproof vests instead of tuxedos, they sing for the wounded in hospitals, even for those who cannot hear them”, explained the Ukrainian president in this recorded speech. “But the music will be heard despite everything. We will defend our freedom to live, to love, to be heard. On our land, we are fighting against Russia, carrying with its bombs a horrible silence. A deathly silence. “
“And then comes peace”
“Fill this silence with your music,” he urged American pop stars gathered in the audience. “Tell the truth about the war on your social media, on TV, in any way possible. Anything but silence. And then comes peace.”
Singer John Legend was then joined on stage by Ukrainian artists. After the performance of the American singer, viewers were invited to support the Global Citizen movement called “Stand Up for Ukraine” to help Ukrainian refugees. Last week, the Oscars ceremony marked a minute of silence in solidarity with Ukraine.