Irish star Bono praised Ukraine’s fight for “freedom” during a performance at a central Kyiv metro station on Sunday, where the U2 frontman also offered his own prayer “for the peace”.
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From the platform of a Kyiv metro station, the 61-year-old rock icon sang U2 classics ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, ‘Desire’ and ‘With or without you’.
People in Ukraine are not only 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 enjoy some of that peace soon,” 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 covering “Stand by me”.
Bono performed alongside U2 guitarist ‘The Edge’ to a small crowd of fans, including members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“It’s good emotions, that’s all,” a member of the Ukrainian Territorial Forces said 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.