UA:PBC, the Ukrainian national broadcaster, has confirmed to ESCToday that Ukraine will compete at the forthcoming 2020 Eurovision Song Contest.

Thus Ukraine joins the list of countries that have confirmed their participation at the 2020 Eurovision edition.

Eurovision fans will be thrilled to know that Ukraine will be back in the game after a year’s absence from the competition.

The Ukrainian broadcaster is yet to unveil its plan of action for Eurovision 2020, it is very likely that the country will opt for a national selection in order to determine its Eurovision entry for Rotterdam, as has been the case in recent years.

Ukraine in Eurovision

Ukraine debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with Oleksandr Ponormayov‘s Hasta la vista, and has won the competition twice in 2004 (Ruslana) and 2016 (Jamala). The country has hosted the contest twice in its majestic capital Kyiv in 2005 and 2017.

Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest and has so far not missed out competing in the Grand Final. The Eastern European nation has competed in Europe’s favourite television show every year since its debut with the exception of 2015 and 2019 when the country withdrew from the competition.

The Ukrainians have made it 9 times in the top 10 of the leader board in their 15 ESC participations, including 2 victories ( 2004, 2016), 2 2nd placings (2007, 2008), 1 3rd placing (2013) and 4th placing (2011).

Ukraine’s withdrawal in 2019

In 2019 Ukraine selected its Eurovision act via its epic national selection Vidbir, Maruv was crowned the winner and won the golden ticket to Tel Aviv with her entry Siren Song. Unfortunately neither Maruv or Ukraine participated at the ESC in Israel this year.

Maruv’s election as the 2019 Ukrainian Eurovision hopeful led to a controversial frenzy which marred the 2019 Ukrainian national final leading to the artist’s refusal to sign a contract with the Ukrainian broadcaster in order to represent Ukraine and ultimately decline participating in the competition under the conditions set by UA:PBC.

The two acts who placed 2nd (Freedom Jazz) and 3rd  (Kazka)  also declined UA:PBC’s invitiation to fly to Tel Aviv. Hence after all the controversy surrounding the 2019 Ukrainian national final UA:PBC decided  to withdraw from the competition in Tel Aviv.