The state will not stop the telethon: the Ministry of Culture responded to the European Commission’s advice
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy reported that they had ‘taken into account’ the European Commission’s recommendations regarding the United News telethon. However, according to the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, state funding for the telethon will cease only after the end of martial law.
The minister noted that the priority remains to create a space for truth and freedom of speech, and this work continues every day. Tochytskyi also said that the draft budget for 2025 provides UAH 2.2 billion for the public broadcaster UA:PBC, which fully meets the needs of this broadcaster.
Earlier, on 30 October, the European Commission published a report on Ukraine’s annual progress towards EU membership, including a review of the media sector. The report states that Ukraine should rethink whether a telethon is the best platform for exchanging views. The EU also praised Suspilne for its neutrality in presenting information and recommended that state TV channel Rada focus on parliamentary issues.
In 2024, more than UAH 1.5 billion was allocated from the state budget to support the telethon and foreign broadcasting. However, the results of polls by KIIS and Democratic Initiatives show that the relevance of United News has declined for a significant number of viewers. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech, also noted that without changes to the format, the marathon could end in 2024.
International organisations such as Reporters Without Borders and the European Federation of Journalists have also called on Ukraine to reconsider the format of the telethon, pointing out its shortcomings. However, Tochytskyi stressed that in times of war, the telethon remains an important tool for combating Russian propaganda and ensuring the unity of information policy.
