Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed his country’s Eurovision victory on Saturday by linking it to the Russian invasion, with this sentence written on his Facebook page: “Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers the world. ‘Europe”.
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“For the third time in its history. And, I believe, not the last. We will do our best to welcome Eurovision participants and guests to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol one day. Free, peaceful, rebuilt!”, he added regarding this port city in the south of the country occupied by Russian troops and almost completely destroyed.
“I thank Kalush Orchestra for its victory, and all those who voted for us! I am sure that our victorious choir in the battle once morest the enemy is not far off. Glory to Ukraine!”, wrote the head of state once more.
The Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra, whose song “Stefania” mixes hip-hop and traditional music, collected 631 points, ahead of the British Sam Ryder and his title “Space Man” (466 points) and the Spanish singer Chanel with “Slo Mo (459 points), during the evening organized in Turin, Italy.