Ukraine Eurovision winner calls for 'peace and love'

The Ukrainian winner of the Eurovision song contest has called for "peace and love" after her win with a song that is reportedly about the deportation of Crimean Tartars under Stalin and claims of ethnic cleansing.

Jamala's winning song, 1944, contains lyrics about strangers coming to "kill you all", and could be one of Eurovision's most controversial winners.

The song has had reporters and online commentators suggesting it is a rebuke to Russia for Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

After receiving her trophy, Jamala said: "I know that you sing a song about peace and love, but actually, I really want peace and love to everyone."

Waving the glass microphone in the air, the 32-year-old singer said: "Thank you Europe - welcome to Ukraine."

The singer said the song was dedicated to her great-grandmother.

The campy music competition kicked off amid promises it would allow countries to "set aside any differences we have" as Europe faces "darker times".

Eurovision hosts Petra Mede and Mans Zelmerlow welcomed the audience to the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, with a reminder the competition was founded in 1954 after Europe had been ravaged by war.

Zelmerlow said: "Once again, Europe is facing darker times."

Mede added: "Now we set aside any differences we have."

Entries in the competition are not allowed to be political, but Jamala's song seemed to come close to the line.

But the event organiser, the European Broadcasting Union, said Ukraine's offering did not contain political speech.