Before speaking about current events, connected with the preparation and the staging of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, let's recall Ukraine's way to Eurovision 2005. The final of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest saw a tight battle for first place between Greece, Serbia & Montenegro and Ukraine that lasted right until the end of the presentation of the televoting results. Before the official beginning of contest many people had precisely predicted Ukrainian Ruslana Lyzhychko as a favourite. In the semi final, which took place on May 12, 2004, our countrywoman distinguished herself from the 21 participants from other countries by showing national colour and unusual energetics in her performance. She moved on to the final where she competed for victory as one of the final 24 participants.

Nearly 100 million viewers from across Europe and other countries further a field watched the live transmission of the final from Istanbul and the majority of them awarded a total of 280 points to Ruslana and Ukraine during the pan-European televoting. The viewers in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia and Turkey gave Ruslana the highest possible amount of points for her song "Wild Dances" - 12 points. Serbia & Montenegro secured second place at the 49th Eurovision Song Contest and Greece finished in third place. Thus, the victory of Ruslana meant that the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest would be held in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.