VIDEO: Sting Gave A Speech During A Concert In Poland: The War In Ukraine Is An Absurdity Based On A Lie

British musician Sting interrupted his concert in the Polish capital Warsaw to warn the audience that democracy is under threat around the world and to denounce the war in Ukraine as an absurdity based on lies.

At the same time, Sting asked the popular Polish actor Maciej Stuhr to come to him on stage and translate his warning that democracy is in serious danger of extinction if we do not defend it, informs the AP news agency.

"The alternative to democracy is prison, prison of the mind. The alternative to democracy is violence, oppression and silence," said the 70-year-old musician, whose real name is Gordon Sumner.

Sting delivered his message in the country, which borders Ukraine, where Russia launched an invasion on February 24, 2022 that has already killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

Poland has become a refuge for more Ukrainians than any other country in the world, AFP notes. "The war in Ukraine is an absurdity based on a lie. If we swallow this lie, it will swallow us up," declared Sting.

The singer alluded to the excuses Russia is using to try to justify its military invasion of Ukraine, including the Kremlin's claim that Moscow's goal is to "denazify" Ukraine, which is headed by a "Jewish president" (Volodymyr Zelensky).

Sting's statement that democracy is messy and frustrating, but still worth fighting for, drew applause. After his speech, Sting performed Fragile, which sings that nothing comes from violence and never could.

The European Union and human rights groups often accuse Poland's populist government of undermining democratic norms with its efforts to tighten control over the courts and media, restrict women's reproductive rights and use anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.