Ukrainian president's powerful Grammys speech: 'Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos'

'The war. What is more opposite of music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,' Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Photo: AFP

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared at the 64th annual Grammy Awards to give a pre-taped speech amid Russia's continued invasion of his country. An insider confirmed the appearance to Variety ahead of the Grammys broadcast. President Zelenskyy shot the video within the last 48 hours in a bunker in Kyiv. The video introduced John Legend's performance about two hours into the show.

"The war. What is more opposite of music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people," Zelenskyy said. "Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died, and we will never see them drawing. Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning in bomb shelters, but alive. Our loved ones don't know if we will be together again. The war doesn't let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence."