Ruslana, the voice of Maidan and winner of the Obama Award for Courage, talks about how Klitschko will sing before the fight in New York

“Voice of Maidan”, Ukrainian singer Ruslana Lyzhichko, flew to New York to sing in front of fight of Vladimir Klitschko.

Ruslana became famous after she won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004. After that, she not only actively acted around the world, but also devoted a lot of time to politics. Ten years later, Michelle Obama awarded the Ukrainian singer the US State Department International Women of Courage Award for her contribution to the “Revolution of Dignity”.

The “Forum” met Ruslana at the airport upon arrival in the USA, where fans already awaited her. She arrived especially for the performance of the anthem before the fight of Vladimir Klitschko with Brian Jennings in Madison Square Garden in New York. The main mouthpiece of the Maidan told about how she dreams of Donetsk, why America will hear the fatal version of the Ukrainian anthem, and how long she has been friends with boxers.

Eight years ago, you already played the anthem before the fight Klitschka in Germany. Today you sing differently?

First, Volodya simply has no options: either he will win today, or we will win him. The country now needs victories, success and positive, for internal strength and for the external audience, who also wants to see our country a winner. And such events, in sports, in culture, they are warmer and closer to people than any policy, from which everything is rather tired and the attitude towards which is biased.

The version of the anthem will be really special, very rocking. America loves rock and needs to hear that now this is the spirit of Ukraine, that Ukraine is strong. Everyone thinks that we are weak, asking for weapons and all that, but we are a very strong nation and this version of the anthem should convey that we are not broken internally, are strong in spirit and can be recharged from us. Ukraine is real now, there is patriotism and inspiration to go forward and fight, we do not declare these things, we are made up of them.

It will be a symphonic rock with an organ, but it’s easy to sing along, I want people to hear themselves.

Ukrainian viewers in Madison Square Garden plan a flash mob and put on all white. Will you support them?

Yes, just two sectors will be filled with Ukrainian fans. All of them will come to a duel in white clothes, as I will sing the anthem and support Volodya. I will also be in white, such a country style Hutsul.

Have you been talking to the Klitschko family for a long time?

With Vitalik, we became close after the events on Maidan in 2004, when we stood there together. But I remember one night, already in 2014, when Volodya and Vitalik came to another Maidan. I do not remember the exact date, but that was before the bloody events on the Grushevsky street. They really helped me out, people had to be kept. So we day and lasted three of us on stage. It was so easy, warm, in a family way, such events bring together forever. Although we have been friends for more than ten years and we have visited quite a few social events in different parts of the world.

Ruslana on the Maidan. Photo: courtesy of the press service.

Your latest album has been released on 2012. Since then, have you been spending more time with civilian activity than with music?

A few weeks ago I had a dream - I see Donetsk, an open area, I am performing, and there are blue and yellow flags everywhere. I see blue and yellow Donetsk. I think this is a prophecy that will soon come true, in a year at most. The east is not going anywhere. I want an integral country and I won’t put up with another Ukraine. This is where I would like to sing. I will stick to music, because it is my only weapon, the only shield that I can give to Ukraine today. I can’t give anything stronger than music, no matter how loud my social voice is.

Ruslana with fighters of the Ukrainian army. Photo: provided by the press service

During the presentation of the award in Cologne [Ruslana and Andrei Makarevich received an award for promoting peace there], I sang the song “Ny yak mіsyachna”, and everything became clear. The people who compose this are not capable of aggression. All the Germans got up, the whole room. I understand that I can only be useful through music.

You have been to Washington more than once, met with Michelle Obama, Senator John McCain. According to your feelings, did American interest in Ukraine become quiet?

The election campaign of Hillary Clinton started late, we would have achieved more. But I have no doubt that if America begins a trend, then it will not develop half way, and this will lead to our cooperation. I hope the Americans understand what this war can turn for them. According to the trend, I feel that they have reached the desired level and must come to modernize our army.

Your forecast, how will the war in eastern Ukraine end?

It will be a miracle.