That conflict, which the International Criminal Court ruled in November 2016 was 'an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation,' has left some 13,000 people dead, according to the United Nations. Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been strained over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and Russia's military, political, and economic support of separatist entities in parts of eastern Ukraine. The National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine said on February 27 that Ukraine would not participate after singer Anna Korsun, who performs under the name Maruv and who won the domestic selection process, refused to sign a contract stipulating that she would not perform in Russia for at least three months after the competition and pledging not to make any 'statements that may call into question the issue of the territorial integrity and security of Ukraine.'

Ukraine has announced it will not participate in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest amid a scandal in its national selection process.

Esc 2020 ukraine