(Kyiv) Irish rock star Bono praised Ukraine’s fight for “freedom” during a performance at a central Kyiv metro station on Sunday, where the U2 frontman also delivered his own prayer “for peace”.
Posted at 10:53 a.m.
From the platform of a Kyiv metro station, the 61-year-old rock icon sang U2 classics Sunday Bloody Sunday, Longed for and With or without you.
“People in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom,” Bono said during a break.
The singer also referenced past conflicts in the band’s native Ireland and the troubles she experienced with a more powerful neighbour.
“We pray that you can soon enjoy some of that peace,” Bono said.
The surprise appearance of Bono – a longtime humanitarian campaigner who frequently lends his voice to various causes including the fight against poverty and AIDS – came as air raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital and the fighting raged in the east of the country.
At one point, Bono invited a Ukrainian soldier to sing with him and called on the world to support the country at war by resuming stand-by-me.
Bono performed alongside U2 guitarist, The Edgein front of a small crowd of fans, including members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“It’s good emotions, that’s all,” said a member of the Ukrainian Territorial Forces in the audience.
“It’s a strange feeling, like I’m a kid going to first grade,” Olesia Bezsmertna, 36, a college professor, said before the concert.