Bono Says Ed Sheeran Resisted Politics on U2's Ukraine War Song

Ed Sheeran told U2 he did not want to "get into politics" when the band recruited him for "Yours Eternally," a song written from the perspective of a Ukrainian soldier, Bono has revealed to Rolling Stone UK.

The collaboration appears on U2's "Days of Ash" EP, released in February. It features Ukrainian musician Taras Topolia, and its lyrics take the viewpoint of a soldier writing to friends back home amid Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia.

"When we did 'Yours Eternally,' [Ed] was saying, 'You're not going to get me into politics, are you?'" Bono said in the interview. "And I said, 'This soldier who inspired us, he loved you Ed and you've worked on this song.' [He responded], 'Yeah, but I just want to keep my thing free.'"

Why is the interview drawing attention now?

Bono's comments arrive weeks after Sheeran faced backlash over the departure of Macklemore from his U.S. tour. The rapper exited the tour last month after stadium owners — including Robert Kraft — banned him from performing over "Free Palestine" speeches he delivered while opening for Sheeran at two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

After Macklemore's exit, Sheeran posted a statement on Instagram that drew widespread criticism as he explained why he does not speak out on political issues.

"Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care. Nor does it mean I don't support causes in my own, personal way," Sheeran wrote. "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum."

He continued: "I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed."

Did Sheeran change his position?

Yes — at least publicly. At his Sept. 19 concert, his first show since Macklemore left the tour, Sheeran addressed the crowd directly.

"This is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore," he told the audience.

"What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate," Sheeran said. "Our hearts can be broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, children's lives and the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

What did Bono say about Macklemore?

Asked about the situation by Rolling Stone UK, Bono acknowledged Sheeran's earlier reluctance but urged perspective.

"I would say with Ed and Macklemore that we shouldn't personalize this, what's going on. Brian Eno said today that pop stars are like little fish in a large sea of huge forces and religion and politics. And so I don't want to dwell on Ed and Macklemore and that incident," Bono said.

He noted, however, that U2 aligns more closely with Macklemore's approach, citing the band's long history of political engagement.

"Even before you got to our performance of 'Pride (In the Name of Love)' in Arizona when we were campaigning for Martin Luther King Day and there was a governor at that time, [Evan] Mecham, who was resisting, and we were told we weren't welcome there. We've been getting into this trouble," Bono said. "It's what we do and we're happy to do that, but we're also happy to recognise if there's other people don't want to get into that kind of fight."

Quoting Brian Eno, he added: "You have to persuade people by reason. You can't try to force people into a position."

What happens next?

Bono is currently promoting U2's upcoming album "Carnaval de Luz," set for release on Nov. 13. Macklemore, meanwhile, has announced a "Free Palestine" tour of three shows this month — Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30 — with all proceeds going to charities providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The rapper has confirmed all three dates have sold out.