George Bush will make his first official state visit to Ukraine at the end of this month. He will arrive in Kiev on March 31 and spend two days in the capital before departing for the NATO summit in Bucharest. During the visit he will meet with Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko. Ukraine’s proposed membership of NATO will be discussed by the two leaders.
UEFA President Michel Platini has given Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland 6 months to get their preparations for the competition on track. He was speaking yesterday after a meeting of UEFA’s executive committee in Zagreb, Croatia, where a report on the lack of progress being made by both countries was discussed. Officials have stopped short of saying an alternative host is being considered, but say the situation will be reviewed in the summer.
Projects to construct stadiums and infrastructure have suffered due to political instability in both countries. The countries were chosen as joint hosts in April last year. Neither country has hosted a major football competition before.
American singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz will play a concert in Kiev this summer. The musician, winner of four consecutive Grammy Awards from 1998 to 2002, will appear at the Palats Sportu on June 16 at 7 pm.
The concert is part of his worldwide Love Revolution Tour and will feature songs from his latest album of the same name, as well as his best known hits.
East German trance music DJ Paul van Dyk will be performing in Kiev on December 14. The gig, part of his In Between Album tour, will be held at the International Exhibition Centre, 15 Brovarskly Prospect, and starts at 9 pm.
Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams will be performing at Kiev’s Palats Sportu on November 30. Tickets are available from Bilitek on 493-2020.
Global Gathering, one of the UK’s most famous dance festivals, is coming to Ukraine. This weekend up to 30,000 revellers are expected to descend on the Chayka Aerodrome, just outside Kiev, for this massive open-air event. DJ’s scheduled to appear include Sasha, John Digweed, and Erick Morillo.
The event takes place on July 14, from 2 pm till late. Ticket prices start at Hr 120 and can be booked by calling 8-800-507-6000.
Elton John will be holding a free concert on Kiev’s Independence Square tomorrow (June 16). The performance will begin at 8 pm and is aimed at raising AIDS awareness amongst young Ukrainians.
Kiev will finally celebrate Europe Day this coming Saturday. Numerous tents, each representing a European country, will be set up along Khreschatyk, and give the public a change to taste national cuisines, learn about different cultures, and more.
The festivities were due to take place earlier this month but were postponed due to the political demonstrations taking place in the city.
Ukrainians will celebrate the end of World War II, ‘The Great Patriotic War’, on Wednesday May 9. As is traditional on this public holiday, veterans will march down Khreschatyk watched by thousands of onlookers. Ukraine saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war, with over 7 million Ukrainians losing their lives.
International super club Godskitchen are coming to Kiev. The event, part of their worldwide tour, will take place on May 8 at the International Exhibition Centre on Brovarsky Prospect at 10 pm. The main DJ’s will be Armin van Buuren and Markus Schulz. Tickets are priced Hr 150 to Hr 500 and can be booked by calling 5012520.