Volodymyr Zelenskyy Appears at Grammy Awards 2022 in Video, Saying "Our Musicians Wear Body Armor Instead of Tuxedos"

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards 2022 in a video on the CBS telecast via satellite to present a performance by John Legend, which was dedicated to the people of Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The video also included a message to viewers across the world, urging support to spread awareness about the ongoing war, according to The Daily Beast news report.

Zelenskyy said that the war does not let them choose who survives and who stays in "eternal silence."

The Ukrainian president also said their musicians "wear body armors, instead of tuxedos." Zelenskyy shared that Ukrainian musicians sing to the wounded in hospitals, "even to those who can't hear them."

Zelenskyy had his speech pre-taped as Russian forces continued to move ahead of its invasion of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Grammys Speech

The short video was reportedly filmed within the last 48 hours. It was presented before the "Free" performance of John Legend.

The performance featured Ukrainian musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton, as well as poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, according to an NPR News report.

Zelenskyy spoke about music and the effect of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis on Ukrainians.

The Ukrainian president talked about children who draw "swooping rockets," instead of "shooting stars."

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has been fighting Russia, bringing "horrible silence with its bombs." He then urged musicians to fill the silence with their music and tell the story of Ukraine through music.

Zelenskyy said that he has a dream of people living and free, further saying, "free like you on the Grammy stage."

Before the 2022 telecast of the Grammys, it was not known whether or not Zelenskyy would appear via satellite or pre-taped video segment, according to a Variety News report.

Zelenskyy did not appear a week before during the 2022 Oscars despite speculations that he would be appearing.

Amy Schumer said that she pitched the Oscars ceremony's producers on getting Zelenskyy involved.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Zelenskyy has addressed Russian forces as "murderers," further describing them as "torturers," and "rapists."

He made the statement after hundreds of bodies of Ukrainian civilians were found on the streets of towns surrounding Kyiv.

The Ukrainian president promised to investigate and prosecute all Russian "crimes" in Ukraine, saying he had created a "special mechanism" to do so, according to The Guardian News report.

Zelenskyy also placed the blame on Russian officials, saying that he wants the leaders of the Russian Federation to see how their "orders are being fulfilled."

The United Nations human rights office noted that there have been 3,455 civilian casualties since the war in Ukraine started on February 24.

The reported number includes more than 1,400 deaths and over 2,000 injuries. However, the actual number is believed to be considerably higher.

Most of the civilian casualties reported were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, which included shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, missile, and airstrikes.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Ukraine president Zelensky delivers speech at the Grammys - from The Independent