Ukraine's first Eurovision winner: 'I'm not sure Russia can ever return to Eurovision'

In December 2003, Ruslana Lyzhychko was offered nan chance to correspond Ukraine successful nan Eurovision Song Contest.

“I said yes immediately. I called my mother and told her, ‘Mom, I’m going to nan Eurovision Song Contest’. And my mother replied ‘Ruslana, you will win.’”

It was nan 2nd clip Ukraine had ever competed successful nan show and everything was new.

“I paid for everything myself – for promotion, production, hotel, costume and recreation for our full delegation. I spent each nan money that my hubby and I had. It was a really large consequence for our family,” she recalls.

But nan consequence paid disconnected – and her mother’s prediction proved true. Dressed successful a Xena nan Warrior Princess–inspired outfit and pinch occurrence blazing down her, Ruslana took to nan shape successful Istanbul pinch her opus "Wild Dances" and won nan 2004 competition.

Two years later, her profession took an unexpected move erstwhile nan telephone rang. It was nan President of Ukraine and he had an different request.

“I was invited to go a personnel of parliament by President Viktor Yushchenko. I said no. I americium a musician and I want to create my music. But nan president convinced me. He told maine that they needed my sanction and that I could thief Ukraine’s European integration”

Though caller to parliament, Ruslana was nary alien to politics, having been an activistic during nan Orange Revolution of 2004-2005. While Ruslana was protesting connected Maidan Square successful Kyiv, preparations for nan 2005 Eurovision Song Contest were underway conscionable a fewer minutes distant astatine nan Palace of Sports – brought to Ukraine acknowledgment to her “Wild Dances” win.

But her clip successful parliament was brief, and she quickly resumed her euphony career. However, successful 2014, Ruslana returned to Maidan, this clip arsenic a cardinal fig successful nan Revolution of Dignity.

Though her profession has been intimately linked to politics, Ruslana does not spot herself arsenic a politician.

Would you ever want to spell backmost to politics?

“No, it was a 1 clip thing, only for 1 year. I americium a musician, a singer, an artist, a producer, a conductor, a dancer, a drummer. It is not astir me,” she says.

Politics and euphony are often intimately linked – particularly successful nan discourse of nan Eurovision Song Contest, though Ruslana prefers nan attraction to stay connected nan euphony itself.

“I judge Eurovision should beryllium astir music. Every year, it brings a surprise. We ne'er cognize who will triumph aliases why. It is astir group deciding which contestant aliases opus feels genuinely unique.”

While she wishes for Eurovision to stay apolitical, Ruslana powerfully supports nan determination to exclude Russia from nan competition.

“Russia cannot return portion successful Eurovision. I americium really not judge if Russia will ever beryllium capable to return to Eurovision.”

If you deliberation Eurovision should beryllium non political, should not Russia beryllium allowed to compete?

“For me, Eurovision represents existent euphony and friendship. I do not cognize really Russia could ever rebuild its narration pinch Europe and Ukraine. If Russia tin destruct cities and termination guiltless Ukrainians, really tin their euphony beryllium considered true?” she explains.

For Ruslana, Eurovision is still important and she follows nan title each year. 

“I americium voting for illustration nan remainder of nan audience. Last year, my favourite was Switzerland.”

Who do you deliberation will triumph this year?

“A batch of group are reasoning astir Sweden, but arsenic a patriot I, of course, judge successful our set Ziferblat.”