U2 shows solidarity with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy
U2 showed solidarity with Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the third anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion. Three years ago today, February 24, the war escalated to a full scale, bringing ongoing devastation and humanitarian crises to the region.
As European leaders and Zelenskyy continue negotiations on potential solutions, the president of Ukraine recently suggested he would step down if that could result in Ukraine being accepted into NATO. The statement comes as an especially intense phase of the war is underway, with Ukraine experiencing the largest drone attack to date. Officials are stating that 267 drones struck Ukraine overnight on Feb. 23, resulting in deaths and additional destruction.
A Poetic Tribute by U2
In celebration of the war entering its fourth year, U2 has dropped a moving work of art in the form of a recitation of 'My Friendly Epistle' by 19th-century Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. It is accompanied by a piano piece and was initially forwarded to President Zelenskyy in 2022 when the invasion began. Bono and The Edge posted the recording to Instagram, drawing specific attention to freedom's need to be safeguarded in Europe.
"Everyone who values freedom and recognizes the threat facing Europe is lying awake tonight on this dismal anniversary," Bono wrote in the caption of the post. He referenced further discussion regarding the situation, indicating still more to come.
Political Reactions and Global Backlash
The tribute follows a series of provocative remarks by former American President Donald Trump, who recently referred to Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections." Zelenskyy was, however, democratically elected in 2019, and as per Ukrainian law, elections are suspended due to martial law, which has been in place since the war began in 2022.
Trump has faced criticism for omitting Ukraine from key discussions after his advisors' sit-down meeting with Russian authorities in Saudi Arabia. The majority of global leaders have condemned the actions, reaffirming support for Ukraine to remain independent and democratic.
Bono's Concept of Freedom
Bono has been a vocal champion of freedom and human rights for years. This spring, he wrote an op-ed for The Atlantic examining the concept of freedom across cultures and through history. His reflections were written before he received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in January, an honor bestowed for outstanding efforts in international peace, security, and humanitarian endeavors.
An honor bestowed by President Joe Biden for his activism against AIDS and poverty, Bono joined an elite list of awardees alongside Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington. In his essay, he discussed how music has been a tool for expressing the universal desire for freedom for centuries.
"Whenever rock artists talk of freedom, it seems to verge more on libertinism than real liberation," Bono remembered. "While growing up in Ireland in the 1960s, we hungered for freedoms that we lacked—freedoms politically, religiously, and personal."
He also stressed how U2 attempted to inject their activism into their music, namely with the song Pride (In the Name of Love). "We wanted it to sound like the very freedom we were fighting for with Amnesty International," he said. "That's how passionate we were." U2 continues to use its platform to advocate for those fighting for democracy and justice around the world through their continuous activism.
