She’s the focal point of a geopolitical row between Ukraine and Russia that’s threatening to overshadow the entire Eurovision Song Contest 2017. But despite Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister ruling out her participation at Semi-Final 2 on May 11, Russia’s Eurovision 2017 singer Julia Samoylova is keeping her flame burning. Continuing her preparations to fly the flag for Moscow in Kyiv, she shot her postcard — the short introductory snippet that precedes all Eurovision acts — on Sunday.

Battling icy conditions, the shoot took place in Red Square, adjacent to the Kremlin which serves as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residence.

Few details beyond outfit have been revealed, but the fact she’s moved ahead with the postcard shoot suggests Julia still believes she’ll be competing in the second semi-final come May.

That’s not an opinion shared by Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, who batted away EBU criticism and confirmed Ukraine’s position that Samolyova cannot compete. In a recent YouTube upload, he reiterated his stance that Ukraine is defending Ukrainian law — and indeed upholding international norms — by refusing her entry. He said:

“Ukraine, when it comes to the Crimea, bases its point of view on decisions of all international organisations, and no international organisation in the world has recognised the annexation of Crimea. We’re defending not only our Ukrainian legislation, but we also adhere to the norms of the international law and defend the status of this international law in Ukraine.”

They have reiterated that the door remains open for Russia to participate, but only if they send a participant who hasn’t violated Ukrainian law.

So where does that leave Julia Samoylova’s particpation?

As the situation stands Russia and Ukraine remain deadlocked. The Russian broadcasters have affirmed their continuing support for Julia as their act and the Ukrianians, despite EBU pressure and potential sanctions, have refused to reverse their travel ban.

Julia, it would appear, isn’t the only one optimistic about a compromise being found. In an interview with German newspaper Der TagesspiegelDr Frank-Dieter Freiling, Head of the EBU Reference Group, urged those anticipating Russian withdrawal to be cautious, suggesting that there is still time for a solution to be found.

In his words: “The President or Prime Minister could override the security apparatus by decree.”

Whether Russia and Ukraine reach an agreement or not, time is running out to find a solution and avoid the political crisis overshadowing Eurovision 2017.

What do you think of the Russia-Ukraine standoff? Can a solution be found? Will Julia perform in Kyiv? Let us know in the comments below!

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Hebbuzz
Hebbuzz
6 years ago

Off course this non-political artists was filmed in front of the political centre of Russia, what an artistic coïncidence!

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

Ukrainian oligarchs (they are in power in Kiev) do business with Russia, earning money, and here with Samoilova held a demonstration performance. What Kiev fooled, only those who know nothing about Ukraine, what there is injustice.

Toinousse
Toinousse
6 years ago

I am not sure if I want her to participate now… I think it’s great for everybody to get a chance and i quite like her song but with all those scandals it would be overrated and if Russia wins… welcome to another year of scandals….

ella
ella
6 years ago

@Sing
Thanks.

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

ella
No, EBU did not offer Russia to change the artist. Julia Samoylova is the approved contestant.

ella
ella
6 years ago

Is there any official confirmation that EBU offered Russia to change the artist? Is it allowed to withdraw/replace artist after the deadline without being fined?

bero
bero
6 years ago

@azaad

The contest is not going West this year.

bero
bero
6 years ago

Hello Europe,
Can’t you see that what Russia does is against you? Russia wants Yulia to be boo-ed, so Russia can be the victim.
How can you fall for such game, that is not against Ukraine, is against all Europe.
All of you Europeans, are you sure that your LGBT will not boo Yulia????
This is what Russia wants, boo Yulia, Europe, for whatever reason.
Russia will fill the internet with your boo-ing and you…LGBT…will look bad.
Never underestimate Russia and their KGB leader.

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

All I can say is thank God the contest is going back West this year cause I don’t want this drama in 2018. Russia should’ve done an Armenia and withdrawn, we would have understood.

Oxana
Oxana
6 years ago

wiwi, who told you that Smoylova filmed a postcard? is there any evidence besides her and blanket? 🙂 maybe she went to protest against government corruption this time (as she was spotted at the same place the protest took place) and then while spotted by media had to come up with some kind of excuse? 😛 people who think that it is too late for Russia to have different song and artist~ let me remind you one fact. when Ukrainian singer Alyosha had issues with EBU and her song was rejected because her producer exposed it in social network ahead… Read more »

fikri
fikri
6 years ago

aww missed opportunity… they should’ve filmed the postcard in crimea.

Julian
Julian
6 years ago

Situation is in EBU’s court now. Until they do not say that there is no solution Russian broadcaster cannot ask for money back, indemnities, and decide to not broadcast this year competition as a protest towards Ukraine broadcaster. Or make other decision within what EBU can offer.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
6 years ago

Just let her participate by satellite then. She’s already been slapped with so much sanctions/bans, that she’ll be virtually absent at this year’s contest. No press interactions or any overseas promos. At least a performance at the contest would do just to show that Russia isn’t snubbing the contest due to politics.

CarlosM
CarlosM
6 years ago

Ukraine is not going to budge. Why is Russia and EBU wasting their time? It’s not going to happen, unless someone has a time machine, goes back in time, and stops Yulia from entering Crimea. Until then, let’s focus on the competitors and their teams who will 100% be in Kiev.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Ever watched TinPo? It’s a computer-animated series encouraging viewers to “think out of the box”, by using unique ways to problems. So I’m just hope for the Ukrainian authorities to apologize for their behavior. After all, Ukraine deserves to apologize for their behavior. The SBU deserves to give Yulia permission to represent Russia. 🙂

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Niko
Russia waits EBU offer. As far as I’m concerned, they did not offer to change the participant yet.

Niko
Niko
6 years ago

It’s an extreme solution, a particular case. If necessary EBU will allow this artist changing, but the problem is… Russia doesn’t want it. I don’t understand why they insist on sending Julia when we all know she won’t be in Kiev. And even more, Russia said she will be their representative in 2018, no matter which country will host. She’ll have her chance + a better song! But no, they don’t want to back down, and the thing is EBU can’t force Ukraine on accepting her if that means breaking that country’s laws. I think too Russia won’t be in… Read more »

Ron
Ron
6 years ago

This is definitely the biggest political fiasco eurovision has seen this decade. Just crazy!

Magistr
Magistr
6 years ago

This girl is not such a simple person, she is cinic and she knows what she is doing… she cant not to know what is happening but continues to ignore it. I think at the end she will sit into the airplaine, come to Kyiv, and will cry in the airport.

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Grobian
criminals and political activists are sitting in the Ukranian government.

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Andreea
EBU did not say Russia to change the singer. What Ukraine say is does not matter in this case. It’s EBU contest not Ukranian.

Andreea
Andreea
6 years ago

Neverending Story… Ukraine vs Russia: The Saga continues… It’s pretty obvious Julia won’t be accepted on Ukrainean teritory, I don’t understand why don’t they just change the singer – end of story. How long will they drag this? Ukraine said Russia is welcome, Julia is not. I just don’t understand why filming the postcard when it’s clear she won’t be in Kiev. In the end I think Russia will withdraw, they don’t have other options. It’s already late for changing their representative + a new song, if necessary. On May 1 there will be the first rehearsal on Eurovision stage:… Read more »

Grobian
Grobian
6 years ago

I don´t want criminals and political activists openly supporting Russian war crimes to participate in Eurovision. That would be seriously disgusting.

Serebro
Serebro
6 years ago

@cars10 Russians are sending her to be booed. Just to show Russians that Europeans are monkeys whom they not should be like.

Azaad
Azaad
6 years ago

Wonder what the theme for the postcards is…are they just copying Sweden and having them centered on the artists’ personal lives

cars10
cars10
6 years ago

All I have to say to this: Let Russia nominate somebody else, and the issue evaporates. Remember Copenhagen anyone? I guess it’ll be worse if she’s coming to Kiev. I can hear the booing already.

ESC84
ESC84
6 years ago

Ukraine thought they will be more like a “country” by enforcing their law, but it seems by enforcing their so-called law, which is double standard, they succesfully made themselves look like more “NOT” a country.

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

Just Me
Correction: the legal, civilized government, not like one in Ukraine.

SpirK
SpirK
6 years ago

So how will it happen? The prime minister will have a different opinion than the vice prime minister? I can’t see how Julias participation will be made possible.

Just Me
Just Me
6 years ago

Just let her enter in Ukraine until the end of Eurovision. We know that the government made exceptions so I don’t see why they can’t do the same for her.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

She really has a positive energy.

Her facebook post looks like it’s from a different world. While we are all wondering if Russia will be able to take part at all, she just keeps doing her job like there’s no worry.

John
John
6 years ago

How much can you talk about it?
She was sick of more than Ukraine

Kirby
Kirby
6 years ago

Please stop the drama and let Julia participate for once and all! This is really getting tiresome.

lllll
lllll
6 years ago

The whole act is concentrated for the fact that the girl is disabled not that they should work on the song which is even worse than avarage.

Catherine
Catherine
6 years ago

@Beesha cucetuda
Law is the same for everybody? But you know that Ukraine let to come Comedy Woman, Byanka, Yuliana Karaulova and IVAN even was invate on Nation Final after their visit to Crimea from russian border? Is it fair?

Beesha cucetuda
Beesha cucetuda
6 years ago

I loved Julia but I must say law is for everyone, foreigners must respect local law in every country of this world, no matter where they come from and in Ukraine isn’t bem different. Being a disabled doesn’t make anyone free to break countries’ rules, If Russia want to send someone in a wheelchair they should search for someone else, I’m absolutely sure that there’s at least one singer in whole country that are on a wheelchair too. That’s easy, send Julia next year to another host country, I’m sure Ukraine won’t win again this year.

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago

It seems that a russian group participated on the same concert on Crimea as Julia, and later they continued their tour into Ukraine. And not “law” was against their concerts in ukraine. So this Ban to Julia is just crap from start to end. Hope she will sing this year, and even if i dont think she deserves to win, because of her song, i admit it will be priceless to see Julia and Russia winning in Ukraine after all this sh*t. So my best wished to Julia and her future in eurovision. And Ukraine, i cant wait to see… Read more »

lki
lki
6 years ago

This song is so bad. If some other country has a song like this it wouldn’t qualify. But Russia will qualify because such a large part of Europe is full of Russian immigrants.

Sing
Sing
6 years ago

She will compete or Ukraine is complete s**t.