'We will fight till the end': Zelenskyy channels Churchill in address to MPs

ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston explains why President Zelenskyy's speech was so historic - and how MPs reacted


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with the UK for more support in his country's fight against Russian invaders, as he addressed MPs and peers in the Houses of Parliament.

The leader channelled ex-UK prime minister Winston Churchill in his speech, telling MPs that Ukraine: "We will fight until the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost.

"We will fight in the forest, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets."

Continuing the Churchill reference, Mr Zelenskyy added: "We will not give up and we will not lose."


Watch President Zelenskyy's speech to MPs in full:

The president urged the UK to issue more sanctions against Russia and appeared to once again ask for a no-fly-zone over Ukraine - a plea which has repeatedly been rejected by Nato because it would involve Western forces shooting down Russian planes.

"Please make sure that our Ukrainian skies are safe," he said, "Please make sure that you do what needs to be done and what is stipulated by the greatness of your country. "

He also compared Ukraine's fight against Russia to the UK's battle with the Nazis in World War Two.

"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," he said.

He added that "over 50 children have been killed" in the conflict with Russia so far.


Political Editor Robert Peston looks at whether President Zelenskyy will be satisfied with the response to his speech

The leader received a standing ovation from MPs both before delivering his speech and after concluding it.

Boris Johnson, responding to Mr Zelenskyy, said: "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 added: "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."

The Ukrainian president spoke to the Commons via video, receiving a standing ovation afterwards. Credit: UK Parliament/ Jessica Taylor

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Ukrainian leader had "shown his strength and we must show him, and the Ukrainian people, our commitment and support."

Lord Patrick Cormack, who had been an MP for 40 years before joining the Lords, said the setting up of a national government should be considered given the huge significance of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"I think the time is coming when we should think of a national government," he told ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston, as he praised Mr Starmer's response to the Ukrainian president's address.


Lord Cormack said the Ukraine invasion was the biggest crisis the UK had faced since WWII


"The time should now come when those who hold high positions in both parties get together."

"We have to have our priorities in order. And the priority is the defence of democracy and the free world.

"We have never never had to play and argue for higher stakes - not since the Second World War," the peer, who has been in parliament for 52 years, added.

His comments came as Mr Johnson sought to strengthen diplomatic European ties by agreeing to work with allies across the continent to ensure Russia can “no longer control energy supplies”.


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Following a meeting with his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Both leaders agreed on the need for the West to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, and said they would work with allies across Europe to ensure Russia could no longer control energy supplies."

Meanwhile, in a show of Nato solidarity, Poland’s government said it will hand over all its MIG-29 fighter jets to a US air base in Germany. The US will then transfer the planes to Ukraine.