By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On Wednesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky who received multiple standing ovations, spoke to a packed British Parliament with standing room only to express his gratitude for Britain’s support from the very first day that Ukraine was invaded by Russia. As he opened his speech, Zelensky said; “I have come here and stand before you on behalf of the brave warriors in the trenches under artillery fire and every defender of the sky who protects Ukraine against our enemies. Thank you Britain.” Zelensky also thanked former prime minister Boris Johnson for his unwavering support for Ukraine. He praised Britain for its bravery in being willing to be at the forefront of supporting Ukraine throughout its fight to combat Russia’s invasion.
The Ukrainian president reiterated how Britain was able to rally and unite other nations behind its support of Ukraine when he said it was “absolutely, absolutely impossible.” He also praised what he deemed as the “British character” when he said: “You, all of you, showed your great strong British character, you didn’t compromise Ukraine, you didn’t compromise your ideals and thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of these great islands.” As Zelensky related: “We always found friends and stamina to move ahead and achieve results.” He also pointed out that both the British and the Ukrainians are united in defeating those who would attempt, at any cost to destroy democracy and democratic values.
Zelensky thanked Prime Minister Risi Sunak as well as the people of the United Kingdom and Parliament for the unwavering support Ukraine has received from them. He said that he speaks on “behalf of every father and every mother who are waiting for their brave sons and their brave daughters back home from the war.” He referenced the training that Ukrainian soldiers have been receiving in Britain and said he was grateful for the ongoing training. Zelensky reminded everyone: “Any aggressor is going to lose,” and he added “the world needs your leadership Britain just as it needs your bravery.” He added that Britain was one of the “very few who helped before that large scale invasion happened.” The Ukrainian president stressed the need to use preventive sanctions “against those who threaten oppression as an anti-war policy.” He praised what he said is a “powerful sanction coalition.” Zelensky reiterated that these sanctions must continue so that “Russia is deprived of any possibility to finance the war.” He added: “With G7, we brought a coalition of values, a coalition that will work in such a way that over time, that there will simply be no grey areas in the world where life doesn’t matter.”
Ukraine’s president pointed out: “Anyone who invests in terror must be held accountable. Anyone who invests in violence must compensate those who suffer from terror.” Zelensky referenced compensating war losses “at the expense of Russian assets,” and thanked the British Prime Minister for his “readiness” to invoke the peace formula that Zelensky had presented months ago at an international summit. In addition, he expressed his deep thanks for the training Ukrainian soldiers are receiving on Challenger tanks, commenting: “I thank you for taking the risk, thank you very much for this very powerful step.” In addition, Prime Minister Sunak announced that Britain will expand its training of Ukrainian soldiers on fighter jets as well and said his country hopes to train up to 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year on Western military equipment.
On the topic of combat aircraft for Ukraine, Zelensky shared that it’s a great honor for him to be received by His Majesty King Charles, expressing what a special moment it would be for him and for Ukraine. Zelensky shared what he will say to the King: “I will thank him for all his support when he was still the Prince of Wales and I will tell him something, I think it’s something very, very important. The King is an airforce pilot and in Ukraine today, every airforce pilot is a king.” He said this as he presented the British Parliament Speaker with an authentic airforce helmet with Zelensky commenting: “This helmet is from a real Ukrainian pilot, one of our most successful pilots and one of our kings.” He highlighted the writing on the helmet – We have freedom, give us wings to protect it, to which he received his another rousing standing ovation. He concluded his speech with this remark: “I trust this symbol will help us for the next coalition. Combat aircrafts for Ukraine, wings for freedom.” Zelensky’s parting words were: “I will be leaving the Parliament today, thanking you in advance for powerful English planes. Gd Bless Great Britain and long live, long live the King.”
