Ukraine's Eurovision entry (about the deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944) has garnered a lot of media attention this year. Here she is talking to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service after progressing to the Saturday's final last night:
Jamala Condemns Latest Crimea Detentions
Ukrainian Eurovision contestant Jamala said her song about Josef Stalin's deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 was all the more relevant following more searches of homes and detentions of Tatars on the Russian-occupied peninsula on May 12. Jamala was speaking after winning a place in the Eurovision final, which takes place on May 14.
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with this item that our news desk posted overnight. It's not strictly related to Ukraine, but does indicate how Russia's actions there are reverberating further afield:
Russian Aggression On Agenda As Obama Hosts Nordic Leaders
Russia's increased military assertiveness will be at the top of the agenda when U.S. President Barack Obama meets with the leaders of five Nordic countries on May 13.
The leaders of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland are making a visit to the White House , where Obama will welcome the leaders for talks on pressing global security issues, including the crises in Syria and Iraq that have sent thousands of migrants flooding into Europe.
Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014 alarmed Russia's Nordic and Baltic neighbors. With NATO considering ways to try to deter further Russian aggression, the White House wants to show support for its northern European allies.
"It is a way of sending a signal that the United States is deeply engaged when it comes to the security of the region, and we will be actively discussing what steps we can collectively take to improve the situation," said Charles Kupchan, Obama's senior director for European affairs.
Based on reporting by Reuters
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, May 12. Check back here tomorrow morning for more of our continuing coverage.