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UK asked to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest instead of Ukraine, organizers reveal

This year, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 66th contest in Italy’s Turin with its song Stefania

© EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

TASS, June 17. The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest cannot be held in Ukraine given the current problems with ensuring security of participants, and talks are underway on hosting the event in the United Kingdom, the European Broadcasting Union announced on Friday.

"Following objective analysis, the Reference Group, the ESC’s governing board, has with deep regret concluded that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest under the ESC Rules cannot be fulfilled by UA:PBC [Ukraine’s public broadcaster]," the statement reads.

As a result of this decision, the EBU will now start discussions with the BBC on hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 66th contest in Italy’s Turin with its song Stefania this year. The UK came in second, while Spain finished in the third place. Traditionally, the song contest takes place in the winning country. Ukraine announced its readiness to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. On June 10, Ukraine’s cabinet set up the organizing committee on holding the event.

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