Coldplay shares stage with Ukrainian rockstar Vakarchuk at Brussels concert

Vakarchuk joined Coldplay on stage on August 9 and together they performed Okean Elzy’s song Obiymy (Embrace), which has become an anti-war anthem.

Before starting the song, Vakarchuk, also known as Slava, thanked Coldplay for inviting him. “These are hard times for my country. We are at war. I want you to know that we are fighting not only for Ukraine. We are fighting for world peace, freedom, and democracy,” he said. As the crowd burst into applause, Vakarchuk said, “We will win this war together and afterwards we will build a new, free, and peaceful world”.

The honour was all ours, Slava. Thank you for letting us play on this beautiful song 💙💛@okeanelzy https://t.co/2iHBoJsZkD

— Coldplay (@coldplay) August 10, 2022

British and Ukrainian rock stars @coldplay and @s_vakarchuk singing a Ukrainian song together – Obiymy (Embrace).

There will come a day
When the war will end, – goes the song.

Grateful for support! pic.twitter.com/LEHlePYWd6

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 10, 2022

Coldplay is our generation of great bands. Respect. In a music industry of a lot of garbage, ColdPlay is a huge hope.

— Filip Sk 🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@FilipGlobal) August 11, 2022

I absolutely love this song and the show of support. Thank you for this incredible performance. #SlavaUkraini

— Denise #TeamPelosi 🇺🇦 #SlavaUkraini 🇺🇦 (@elevenstars) August 11, 2022

So many people is supporting Ukraine ♥️🇺🇦
That’s great 👍 for sure it’s helps in dark moments of war to know that nobody is not alone there♥️🇺🇦
Beautiful song 🎵 thank you 😊 🙏

— JR (@asiarog62) August 10, 2022

Thanks so much Coldplay for your support to Ukraine. 🙏❤❤

— Sylvie Fathoni (@Sylvie106931) August 10, 2022

It is absolutely surreal to see Coldplay playing one of our Ukrainian cult songs of @okeanelzy and their frontman and our nation’s cult rock singer Slava Vakarchuk is singing his song together with @coldplay 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/FrZHedpdjS

— Alexa (@oleksa_alexa) August 11, 2022

Warmest thanks for your support in such dark time! It’s so important for us 💔

— медуза ціанея 🇺🇦 (@norrraarrron) August 10, 2022

I remember that on this song in Warsaw literally everyone just stopped for a moment, it was incredible feeling hearing this.

— Weronika (@werka9910) August 10, 2022

Thank you so much!!!! Two great singer with so beautiful song pic.twitter.com/wC4p4pEYB3

— кривенька качечка🔮🕸 #StandWithUkraine (@apostl_na_stini) August 11, 2022

The video of Coldplay and Vakarchuk performing together is going viral. Commenting on the video, a Twitter user wrote, “It is absolutely surreal to see Coldplay playing one of our Ukrainian cult songs of @okeanelzy and their frontman and our nation’s cult rock singer Slava Vakarchuk is singing his song together with @coldplay 😭😭😭😭😭”.

Another user remarked, “I absolutely love this song and the show of support. Thank you for this incredible performance. #SlavaUkraini”.