Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky thrilled British lawmakers on his visit to Britain on Wednesday, which will continue in Paris on Thursday. “Victory will change the world,” he proposed, dressed as a military man, when he demanded that they give him fighter planes, “wings for freedom” in the conflict once morest Russia.
A comedian transformed into the new Winston Churchill, with powerful and moving oratory. In the same packed Westminster Hall where Queen Elizabeth stood on display during his funeral, the united House of Commons and Lords gathered to listen, applaud, take photos and join him in his fight.
There were Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his predecessor Boris Johnson, with the most prestigious deputies in the country and women legislators in the front line.
Dressed in military gear, Zelensky thanked Boris Johnson for his support. In the followingnoon, was received by King Carlos III, an Air Force pilot, to whom he will insist with his request for planes, even if Britain does not have too many to offer him. The Tornados were sold by the British government to Germany.
In a sign of Britain’s importance to the war effort, it is only the third country Zelensky has visited during the conflict. In December he traveled to Washington to meet with President Joe Biden, then to Poland.
“Evil” and “Human Nature”
Zelensky urged UK to send fighter jets to Ukraine while addressing Parliamentarians in Westminster. The Ukrainian president praised Boris Johnson and thanked parliamentarians for showing “strong British character”.
In addition, he issued an advert regarding letting evil “ripen.” The Ukrainian president specified what might happen. He said that this is within human nature. This evil “destroys and kills, attacks and breaks people’s lives.” But the UK and Ukraine “have already fought this evil together,” the president remarked.
Zelensky specified that he does not affirm that there will be no more wars, since it is within human nature. But it is “in our power to guarantee by word and deed that the light side of human nature will prevail.”
He then concluded his speech by saying that two years ago he left Parliament with thanks for “delicious English tea”. Now, he is thanking the UK in advance for the “mighty English planes”.
“God bless Great Britain and long live the King. Slava Ukraini,” he said goodbye. Those present gave him a standing ovation.
Zelensky asked for fighter planes, wings for freedom. President Zelensky said they were looking forward to victory day, but until then, the evil is still here.
“We pay with our lives, with the lives of our heroes who risk life or death every day,” he said.
Shortly before being received by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, the Ukrainian leader stated that it would be “a truly special moment.” And he teased that he planned to tell her: “In Britain the king is an air force pilot and today in the Ukraine every air force pilot is a king.”
The Ukrainian president clarified that this “coalition of friends” it will be necessary in the future to prevent attacks in other regions.
He praised the UK for providing Ukraine with the weapons to protect the lives of children, civilians, women, the elderly and citizens from Russia’s “heinous occupation and missile terror”.
Zelensky said he is “proud” of his air force, but his pilots need planes to fight the war. After presenting the Commons spokesman with a Ukrainian pilot’s helmet, he once more asked for planes, saying the words on the side of the helmet he will give Charles III read: “We have freedom, give us wings to protect it.”
“I am confident that this symbol will help us with our next coalition, the aircraft coalition. Wings for freedom,” he repeated.
This air defense coalition, the sanctions package once morest Russia and the values coalition within the G7 were welcomed by Zelensky.
Also to the UK for their help in preparing the ground for a special tribunal for the Russian crime of aggression and a special compensation mechanism.
The Ukrainian president must wage a war with European and American help. His weapons are not enough for him and he must fight once morest the resistance of Germany, of France, of the UN itself, whose director general Alfredo Guterres warns regarding a globalization of war to give it to them little by little.
Ukraine’s president thanked the UK for sending tanks and long-range missiles which he says will force Russia to “completely withdraw”. Germany will offer Leopard tanks soon.
Peace “paves the way for a new world history,” Zelensky said.
“One who knows how to help quickly, be effective in defense, uphold her principles in the dark hours, implement her treaties in good faith, not allow perpetrators immunity, knows how to overcome an abused veto, knows no fear and who knows how to win.
President Zelensky once once more thanked the parliamentarians for their “courage” in the face of the Russian war.
“London has been with kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the war, extending a helping hand when the world still didn’t know how to react,” he described.
Turning to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he thanked him for getting other countries behind Ukraine, saying the MPs “showed their courage and character back then: strong British character.”
The Ukrainian leader described how the countries worked together throughout their histories to “enjoy peace.”
Meeting with Rishi Sunak
As part of their talks and following receiving him in front of the plane, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offered to extend British training of Ukrainian forces to marines and fighter pilots. Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the last six months.
Zelenski said at 10 Downing St: “Thank you very much Rishi for having me. It is a great honor for me to be here in Great Britain.” He thanked the British for their “great support” from the first day of the war, adding: “We are proud, really, and we have very good relations with Rishi.”
The Ukrainian president became the first foreign leader to address parliamentarians by video in March last year, shortly following the Russian invasion, with an emotional speech that received a prolonged standing ovation. He then he had planned visit Ukrainian troops in training with the British Prime Minister.
“President Zelensky’s visit to the UK is a testament to his country’s courage, determination and struggle, and a testament to the unwavering friendship between our two countries,” said Prime Minister Sunak.
“Since 2014, the UK has provided vital training to Ukrainian forces, enabling them to defend their country, protect their sovereignty and fight for their territory. I am proud that today we will expand that formation. It underscores our commitment to not just provide military equipment in the short term, but a long-term promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for years to come,” he assured.
united parliament
During a bipartisan question session from the prime minister, in which Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer pledged full support for Ukraine’s war effort, Sunak said he was “proud that we came together to support Ukraine when the moment mattered.” And he added: “We will continue to stand with them, united as one Parliament and one United Kingdom.”
Labor leader Keir Starmer also stressed that support for Ukraine cuts across party divisions. “It is vital that we all remain united to fully support Ukraine,” he said. “In this house we must speak with one voice and say that this terrible conflict must end with the defeat of Putin in Ukraine.”
Trial in The Hague for Vladimir Putin
Sir Keir Starmer, a Labor leader, renowned human rights lawyer and former Crown Attorney, said Russian President Vladimir Putin “must be tried” at the International Court in The Hague.
Starmer urged the prime minister to ensure that “Putin and all his cronies must be in The Hague and face justice.”
Sunak responded that the Labor leader was “absolutely right that we need to hold them to account for the horrible crimes that they have committed”.
There were some deaf boos from the Conservative benches as Starmer said Labor’s commitment to NATO was “unwavering”. Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer’s predecessor, was a vocal critic of the alliance.
Starmer said: “As a country, we have always been at our best when facing tyrannical aggressors who threaten their neighbors and the peace on our continent. This is why the Labor Party helped found NATO and why our commitment to NATO is as unwavering today as it was then.”
The Labor leader added: “Whatever differences we may have, whatever difficulties we face as a country, we in this house have a duty.”
Paris, correspondent
CB