By Tim Saunders on
Sir Paul McCartney is to perform to hundreds of thousands of fans at a free concert in the Ukraine in June, in the spirit of global hope and unity.
The 65-year-old singer has been invited by Ukrainian tycoon Viktor Pinchuk, the son-in-law of the former president Leonid Kuchma, to play in Kiev’s main Independence Square at a show dubbed the Independence Concert.
“The ideology and spirit of The Beatles helped build the democratic aspirations for much of the Soviet society and eventually led to the peaceful collapse of the USSR and the independence of the former Soviet republics,” said a joint statement from Sir Paul and the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation. “For the first time [the Ukraine has] the opportunity to hear the songs that changed the world and created a new culture – the songs that we grew up with and became who we are.”
The concert, to be held on June 14, follows Elton John's appearance in Kiev last year to promote HIV and Aids awareness. That concert attracted 200,000 people and led to Pinchuk establishing a series of AIDS projects in the country.
“It’s going to be [a] great evening hopefully for the Ukraine,” said McCartney. “Pull together, groove, rock ‘n’ roll — all together. We hope to see you there.”
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