Last September, when Ukraine announced that it would withdraw from Eurovision 2015, our hearts sank. The land of divas like Ruslana and Ani Lorak (that’s Karolina backwards) brought drama and fabulosity during its first 12 appearances, and we knew this year’s Eurovision would be just a little less colourful as a result.

Well dry those tears, baby! Just hours ahead of tonight’s grand final, Zurab Alasania, the general director of Ukraine’s National Television Company (NTU), has confirmed to Ukraine’s Apostrophe that Kyiv will likely return in 2016. They will finalize details in the coming months.

Their withdrawal stemmed partly from financial difficulties and partly out of respect for the ongoing crisis in the country. If Russia’s Polina Gagarina — one of the favourites this evening — wins, NTU may retract its promise.

In 2014 Ukraine sent Maria Yaremchuk with the song “Tick Tock”. It ultimately finished sixth in a field of 26 finalists.

Mariya Yaremchuk interview: War, politics, fashion

Are you glad that Ukraine is returning next year? Do you think they will retract their statement? Let us know in the comments!

Follow all of our Ukraine Eurovision news here

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Britz26
8 years ago

YAY! 😀 <3

poppipo
poppipo
8 years ago

It would be awesome so see Ukraine coming back.

danielvarga
danielvarga
8 years ago

I think next year 43 countries will participate:

Return: Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey & Ukraine
Withdraw: Australia

Andrii
Andrii
8 years ago

Next year Ukraine and Turkey will return. Czech Republick might withdraw, becouse they always have got bad results even if they choose great song for contest (2015). Macedonia – this year will think about their participation maybe create poll and people will say no for Eurovision, also broadcaster want to withdraw for financial reasons. Portugal will now withdraw,becouse people there like contest and they haven’t got any financial problems. San-Marino maybe yes or maybe not, becouse I think they haven’t any singers for contest now, also their bad results. Ireland will not windraw becouse contest in this country is very… Read more »

random.sage2.0
8 years ago

Only 46 can participate but nothing wrong with stretching the rules for the 60th Eurovision song contest in 2016.

Yeah. I said it. This year was the 59th. Kiss my black ass and eat the chocolate stains.

I’m so excited for Ukraine coming back! Maybe Eduard from Moldova might get a chance there with a better song.

EscAddict
EscAddict
8 years ago

I am so happy Ukraine are coming back. They have entered some of my all time favourite ESC songs.
I hope Bulgaria and B&H come back too.
Please stay Czech Republic. I voted for you. I want more!

Otna
Otna
8 years ago

Ukraine <3

lol
lol
8 years ago

shut up mario

D
D
8 years ago

There is no way Ireland or Portugal will withdraw, I honestly have no idea why people think they’ll withdraw just because they haven’t done well in recent years. The only reason countries withdraw is if they have financial difficulties or no one in their respective countries watches the show. There’s a very good chance the Czech Republic may withdraw in 2016 sadly if they don’t get their viewers up. Anyways, super excited to see Ukraine back. I also expect Turkey, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and maybe Croatia to return. 2016 will be a great year I can already tell.

fikri
fikri
8 years ago

ukraine has been a regular staple in eurovision finals for the last god knows how many years. i miss them dearly!

hopefully turkey will return too!

Bronson
Bronson
8 years ago

It’ll be good to see Ukraine back, especially considering it’s fair to say that withdrawals may come from Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

EF0912
EF0912
8 years ago

Excellent news. My favourite Eurovision country ever!!!

Felix Prochain
Felix Prochain
8 years ago

‘If Russia’s Polina Gagarina — one of the favourites this evening — wins, NTU may retract its promise.’

Sweet.., why don’t they retract then millions of Ukrainian gastarbeiters from Russia? Should I mention about another millions of Ukrainians citizens of Russia?
Idiots.

Mii11
Mii11
8 years ago

I’m so happy <3 Ukraine is one of my favorite countries i n Eurovision. I hope Czech Republic will not withdraw – after all this was their first year after a long break and I read that viewing rates were quite good (considering the semifinal was not aired on main channel but on CT Art). Unfortunately I think Portugal and San Marino are more likely to withdraw 🙁

cheesecake
cheesecake
8 years ago

Good news!

Mario My Vision of Gay Love
Mario My Vision of Gay Love
8 years ago

I truly think that next year our EuroVision will have a record breaking 4 the most countries participating! <3 🙂
The record of 43 countries will gonna break i guess.. 🙂
If all these 9 countries will return making their GreAtY comeback then we will gonna have almost 50 participants in our Vision! 😀 WOW! 😀

wut
wut
8 years ago

Czech, Portugal and Ireland might withdraw (depends on the results, if Ireland finished 11th in the semi they might stay). Bulgaria will come back, Croatia might also if Slovenia does respectably well. Turkey will come back if Azerbaijan does well. I don’t know about Bosnia. Slovakia probably won’t return.

Mario My Vision of Gay Love
Mario My Vision of Gay Love
8 years ago

Well hopefully Ukraine will gonna send a gay hot singer in our Vision next year <3 🙂

Well ok….They were absent only 1 year from our Vision…
Turkey is absent 3 years…Bosnia is absent also 3 years…Croatia is absent 2 years…Bulgaria is absent also 2 years…
Slovakia is absent also 3 years…
Monaco is absent for 9 years now!
Andorra is absent for 6 years now..
Luxemburg is absent for 22 years now!!!!

davve
davve
8 years ago

welcome back

Freyah
Freyah
8 years ago

YAY! We’ll need countries to return, like Ukraine and Turkey (If they say they actually will then not withdraw the statement again). They’ll probably be some withdrawls after this year – Czech Republic, though I hope they keep trying, cause Marta and Vaclav were great, Portugal may withdraw depending on how bad their placing is, then other countries that missed the final.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago

Yay, great news 🙂 Hopefully more countries like Croatia and Bosnia&Herzegovina will return as Serbia and Montenegro made it to the final.

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

yesss!!!!! welcome back ukraine and probably turkey i think we will see lots of returning countries next year but czech republic and portugal might withdraw:(