Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky asks UK Parliament to step up Russian sanctions

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Parliament on Tuesday, receiving a standing ovation before beginning his speech.

He told MPs "We will not give up and we will not lose - we will fight until the end ... Whatever the cost'.

The Ukrainian leader said Ukraine didn't start this war and didn't want it but he pledged fight.

Zelensky spoke of child casualties from the Russian invasion and asked the UK Government to help support his nations.

Addressing the House of Commons via video link, Zelensky said “we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours, our country Ukraine”.

According to the English language translation on Parliament TV, Zelensky said: “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.”

The Ukrainian leader compared the war in Ukraine to the Second World War: “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 4 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.”

H said Russian forces had demanded Ukrane we lay down arms but he said "we need to continue fighting".

Concluding his speech to the Commons, Volodymyr Zelensky called on the UK for more support.

Speaking through a translator provided by Parliament TV, he said: “We are looking for your help, for the help of Western counties.

“We are thankful for this help and I am grateful to you Boris.

“Please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country (Russia) and please recognise this country as a terrorist country.

“Please make sure sure that our Ukrainian skies are safe.

“Please make sure that you do what needs to be done and what is stipulated by the greatness of your country.

“Glory to Ukraine and glory to the United Kingdom.”

His speech drew cross-party praise, with Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and Ian Blackford all pledging to do what they can to help the country.

SNP Westminster leader Blackford told the Commons: “President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, we salute you. We stand with the people of Ukraine on the basis of the act of aggression, on the act of war of Putin.

“We must do all that we can to send support to Ukraine, to send the weapons that they need to defend themselves, to make sure that we sanction the regime in Moscow, that we deliver the clearest message to President Putin – that this will end in failure for him, that he will face justice at the international court.

“We must stand in this House, throughout these islands, throughout the western world in defence of democracy, in defence of sovereignty.

“Peace, justice and the sovereignty of Ukraine must prevail.”

Blackford said those who need sanctuary must find a “welcoming hand” in the UK.

The Prime Minister said of 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.”

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.”

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 Starmer also 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.”