Ukraine's President Zelensky at the 2022 Grammys Says 'Our Musicians Wear Body Armor Instead of Tuxedos'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
During the ceremony in Las Vegas, President Zelensky gave a pre-taped speech and called for support for his country amid the Russian offensive.
"War. What's the opposite of music? The silence of ruined cities and the dead. Our kids swoon, don't shoot at the stars. More than 400 people have been injured and 153 children have been killed, and we'll never let them know." Will not even see the drawings being made," he said in his video address during the ceremony.
Zelensky's video message was penned by singer John Legend, who penned a musical tribute to those suffering amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
He adds, parents in Ukraine are "happy to wake up in the morning - in bomb shelters, but alive. Our loved ones don't know whether we'll be together again."
"Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing for the injured. In hospitals. Even those who can't hear them. But the music will break anyway. We defend our freedom." To live, to love, to voice," he added.
He then shared that his country is facing a "terrible silence". Requesting support for his country, he said, "Fill the silence with your music! Fill it today. To tell our story. Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV. Tell us about any Support in any way. No one—but silence. And then peace will come."