LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — This weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest can have Ukrainian flags, Ukrainian musicians and Ukrainian followers — however not the nation’s wartime chief.

Organizers say they rejected a request from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a video deal with to the ultimate of the pan-continental music competitors on Saturday. He was anticipated to induce the world to proceed its assist for Ukraine’s battle to repel Russian invasion.

The European Broadcasting Union, a grouping of nationwide public broadcasters that runs Eurovision, stated that letting Zelenskyy take part would breach “the nonpolitical nature of the event.”

Zelenskyy’s request “to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, whilst made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted by the European Broadcasting Union management as it would be against the rules of the event,” the group stated.

Zelenskyy spokesman Sergii Nykyforov denied that the president had requested to talk to the occasion, which will likely be watched by an estimated 160 million individuals.

“The Office of the President of Ukraine did not address the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest to offer (Zelenskyy’s) online performance during the finals or at any other stage of the contest,” he stated on Facebook.

In the 15 months since Russia invaded, Zelenskyy has addressed dozens of worldwide gatherings to advertise his nation’s trigger. He has spoken to legislatures around the globe by video — and some instances in particular person — and appealed to crowds on the Glastonbury music competition, the Grammy Awards and the Berlin Film Festival.

But he reportedly was denied permission to talk on the Academy Awards in March, and Ukraine says that FIFA, worldwide soccer’s governing physique, additionally refused Zelenskyy’s request to ship a video message to the World Cup in November 2022.

Founded in 1956 to assist heal a continent shattered by struggle, Eurovision strives to maintain pop and politics separate. Overtly political lyrics, indicators and symbols are banned.

But politics can’t be shut out totally. Russia was banned from the competition after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus had been kicked out the earlier yr over its authorities’s clampdown on dissent.

Last yr’s contest was received by Ukraine, and the U.Okay. has stepped in to host on its behalf.

Acts from 26 nations will compete in Saturday’s dwell last on the Liverpool Arena, which will likely be co-hosted by Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina. It will function a efficiency by final yr’s Eurovision winner, Kalush Orchestra, and different Ukrainian performers, and pictures of Ukraine will likely be proven earlier than every act performs.

“We believe that this is the best way to reflect and celebrate Ukraine’s Eurovision Song Contest win and show we are united by music during these hard times,” the broadcasting union stated.

Tens of hundreds of music followers from throughout Europe have flocked to Liverpool, which received a contest amongst U.Okay. cities to host the competition. The birthplace of The Beatles has thrown itself into the celebration spirit, with pubs and venues throughout the town holding Eurovision events and a multinational fan zone that includes performances by Eurovision stars previous and current.

Organizers say they've taken steps to make sure the telephone and on-line voting isn’t disrupted by cyberattacks, working with the U.Okay. National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the occasion’s defenses.

Martin Green, the BBC’s managing director of the occasion, stated that preparations have been “in a really good place,” although he wouldn’t give particulars of safety preparations.

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