They’re a perennial threat at Eurovision and have won three times since 2004. And on Tuesday Ukraine confirmed it’s ready to get back in the ring for Eurovision 2025 in Basel.
The country’s participation has never really been in doubt. They famously won the contest just months after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and followed that up with a sixth place finish in Liverpool. And just last May the power duo of Jerry Heil & alyona alyona took the country to a spectacular third place finish.
Can they take things even higher in 2025? Their press release, reprinted in full below, suggests so.
Ukraine confirms Eurovision 2025 participation — and “new surprises” (PRESS RELEASE)
Suspilne Ukraine has confirmed Ukraine’s participation in Eurovision 2025. More details about the process of selecting Ukraine’s representative for next year’s contest will be announced in due course.
According to Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board at Suspilne Ukraine, Eurovision is a key element of cultural diplomacy, and Suspilne will do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine is represented in the best way.
“We are starting a new season of preparations for Ukraine’s Eurovision entry, this time in Basel, and we are preparing new surprises,” shared Oksana Skybinska, Head of the Ukrainian delegation at Eurovision.
As a reminder, earlier this year, Ukraine’s representatives at Eurovision 2024, alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, secured an impressive third place with their song Teresa & Maria and a performance directed by two-time Grammy nominee Tanu Muino. Their performance reinforced Ukraine’s unique record as the only country to qualify for the final every year since its debut in 2003. The track garnered over 40 million streams on Spotify only, showcasing its global appeal.
Verka and Jamala in the jury. Surprise!!!!!!
If they are so busy fighting a war, they wouldn’t waste money and resources on ESC. I’m tired of the virtue signalling televote that helps to increase Zelensky’s ego.
You are literally talking nonsense, our public broadcaster does not waste money. Eurovision has always been big in Ukraine, and we choose our representatives very carefully, so it’s not a random pop-dance song, it’s a song with a deep meaning. And in fact, for your general education, you should now know how the money we get from international organizations works, we can’t spend all the money we get on defending ourselves against the russian terrorist state, because we have to spend a certain amount of money on cultural events, and we decided how to spend it with the most benefit,… Read more »
Tell that to Bosnia who in 1993 literally ran from snipers to get to Ireland, it was that important to show that you have a voice
Putin has stated pretty openly that he doesn’t believe the Ukrainian identity or Ukrainian culture even exists. Zelensky has said one of his aims is to ensure that Ukraine isn’t dragged behind the new iron curtain that Putin is creating in Europe. It seems pretty clear to me why competing at Eurovision and presenting Ukrainian music and language to around 200 million people is a pretty important priority.
If any other country say they have “surprises” in store for Eurovision, I’d probably roll my eyes, but not Ukraine.
Ukraine always has good songs , they are going to surprise us again I’m sure.
they’ve been delivering since 2021, so let it be it
we’re not due for another token eastern europe win for a few years
Only exception if they send showman Oleg Vinnik, ukrainian Sergey lazarev potential is real there with a hint of sakis rouvas vibes
As long as Russia is still attacking Ukraine, I don’t think there’s going to be another Ukrainian Eurovision victory for a long time. They already experienced firsthand that if Ukraine wins While Russia is still attacking them, they’re not going to allow them to host. That’s just not gonna happen.
Why not? They did in 2022/2023. The template is there.
Liverpool did a great job in hosting this contest on their behalf
I don’t think an average Eurovision voter really cares about the hosting logistics when they are voting for their favourite songs. Even Israel almost won the popular vote this year.
It was rigged, right wing European politicians asked their voters to vote for Israel to make an anti-Arabic statement., and they did.
I hope that the new surprise doesn’t include Jamala. Out with her already.
I loved their performance and song. My personal winner. Ukraine always has amazing staging, presence, and songs (minus a couple of misses over the years).