A TOP Ukrainian politician has endorsed Scotland’s bid to host Eurovision 2023.
Kira Rudik, an MP in the parliament of Kyiv and leader of the liberal Voice party, backed Glasgow to host the contest.
Writing on Twitter, Rudik said: “Naturally I’m disappointed that after Ukraine’s stunning success at @Eurovision earlier this year, we’re declined to host the contest in 2023.
“I’d endorse @StewartMcDonald campaign to bring the Eurovision ’23 to the city of #Glasgow, where I had the pleasure of visiting recently.”
McDonald, the MP for Glasgow South, announced earlier on Friday that he had “submitted a motion to parliament and an application for debate calling for Glasgow to be the host city for #Eurovision 2023”.
He added: “The city is the perfect place to welcome the world to and honour the spirit of Ukraine – the 2022 winner. Let's do it for Ukraine and for Glasgow!”
Rudik visited Scotland in early June, meeting politicians in Holyrood such as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as well as refugees from the Russian invasion who had been welcomed in by Scots.
The Ukrainian MP also had kind words to say about people in Glasgow.
#Glasgow has a strong track record in hosting major international events, as the world witnessed during last year’s #COP26. Ukrainians know the city from the recent #Scotland-Ukraine football match, where my people experienced the warmth and generosity of the people of Glasgow.
— Kira Rudik (@kiraincongress) June 17, 2022
She added on Twitter: “Glasgow has a strong track record in hosting major international events, as the world witnessed during last year’s #COP26.
“Ukrainians know the city from the recent #Scotland-Ukraine football match, where my people experienced the warmth and generosity of the people of Glasgow.”
Responding, McDonald wrote: "We would all absolutely love to be in Ukraine for the next #Eurovision in 2023, but if this isn’t possible then Glasgow would proudly carry the Ukrainian spirit as an alternative host city. Great to have Ukrainian MP and party leader @kiraincongress back Glasgow."
The EBU announced on Friday that it had opened discussions with the BBC about hosting Eurovision in the UK, having decided the security risk was too high for it to be held in Ukraine.
However, Ukraine has demanded a pause on talks, saying it is their “right” to host the 2023 contest as the winners of the 2022 event.
The nation's Kalush Orchestra beat the UK's Sam Ryder into second place with audience votes at the Eurovision contest held in Italy in May.
