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Ukraine’s Zelensky appears in taped video at Grammys
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Special message: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears on screen in a prerecorded message during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He called on all those present to “fill the silence” left by Russia’s war on Ukraine. (AFP/Valerie Macon)
U
krainian 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 by war with music.
Zelensky delivered his prerecorded message ahead of John Legend’s performance of the song "Free", joined by Ukrainian singer Mika Newton, musician Siuzanna Iglidan and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.
"What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people," Zelensky said.
"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 live, to love, to sound," he said.
"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."
His appearance on music's biggest night in the United States comes as global outrage mounts at accusations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, with the discovery of mass graves and corpses in towns near Kyiv.
