Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told MPS 'we will not give up' when he made a historic address in the House of Commons.
The President, who is currently thought to be in his office in Kyiv, joined the Chamber via video link.
Zelensky was greeted by a standing ovation from the House which was packed for the rare occasion.
In the one of a kind speech, Zelensky quoted British icons Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare in his plea for the United Kingdom to prove further support and solidarity with Ukraine.
Zelensky echoed British war leader Sir Winston Churchill by saying: “We will fight until the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost.”
The Ukrainian president added: “We will fight in the forest, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets.”
He then shared the wisdom of the Bard and said: “The question for us now is to be or not to be. Oh no, this Shakespearean question. For 13 days this question could have been asked but now I can give you a definitive answer. It’s definitely yes, to be.
“And I would like to remind you the words that the United Kingdom have already heard, which are important again. We will not give up and we will not lose.”
According to the English language translation on Parliament TV, Mr Zelensky started his speech with: “Mr Speaker, all the Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, I am addressing all the people of the United Kingdom and all the people from the country with a big history.
“I am addressing you as a citizen, as a president, of also a big country, with a dream and big effort.
“I would like to tell you about the 13 days of war, the war that we didn’t start and we didn’t want. However we have to conduct this war, we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours, our country Ukraine.”
“Just the same way you once didn’t want to lose your country when the Nazis started to fight your country and you had to fight for Britain.
“Thirteen days of this struggle … at four o clock in the morning we were attacked by cruise missiles. Everybody woke up and people with children…”
He added: “We have been fighting for our country, with our army.”
He went on: “Russian forces demanded that we lay down arms, we need to continue fighting.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “over 50 children have been killed”.
According to the English language translation on Parliament TV, Mr Zelensky added: “These are the children that could have lived but these people have taken them away from us.
“Ukraine were not looking to have this war. The Ukraine have not been looking to become big but they have become big over the days of this war. We are the country that are saving people despite having to fight one of the biggest armies in the world. We have to fight the helicopters, rockets.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of Volodymyr Zelensky: “In his righteous defence I believe he has moved the hearts of everybody in this House.
“At this moment ordinary Ukrainians are defending their homes and their families against a brutal assault and they are, by their actions, inspiring millions by their courage and their devotion.”
Mr Johnson said “one of the proudest boasts in the free world” is “I am Ukrainian” – which he said in Ukrainian.
He said: “This is a moment to put our political differences aside and I know I speak for the whole House when I say that Britain and our allies are determined to press on with supplying our Ukrainian friends with the weapons they need to defend their homeland as they deserve, to press on with tightening the economic vice around Vladimir Putin and we will stop importing Russian oil.”
Mr Johnson went on: “And we will employ every method that we can – diplomatic, humanitarian and economic – until Vladimir Putin has failed in this disastrous venture and Ukraine is free once more.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: “Every one of us has been moved by the bravery, the resolve, and the leadership of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky.
“Invading troops march through his streets, shells rain down on his people, and assassins seek his life. No-one would have blamed him for fleeing but instead, he has stayed in Kyiv to lead the Ukrainian people and to fight.
“He has reminded us that our freedom and our democracy are invaluable. He has prompted a world into action, where too often we have let Putin have his way. He has inspired the Ukrainian nation to resist and frustrated the Russian war machine.
“He has shown his strength and we must show him, and the Ukrainian people, our commitment and support.
“Labour stands for the unity at home and abroad that will isolate the Putin regime. Labour stands for the toughest sanctions that will cripple the Russian state. Labour stands for providing Ukraine with the arms it needs to fight off their invaders.
“Labour stands with President Zelensky, with Ukraine, with democracy. Slava Ukraini.”
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