HERO leader Volodymyr Zelensky has given a rapturous speech to Parliament as part of a surprise visit to the UK - the first since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky, dressed in his trademark olive-green top, was greeted by rapturous applause by the MPs and Peers in Westminster Hall after disembarking from a military transport plane at Stansted Airport earlier this morning.
Echoing British wartime leader Winston Churchill, he told the great hall: "The United Kingdom is marching with us towards the most, I think, the most important victory of our lifetime. It will be a victory over the very idea of the war. After we win together, any aggressor, it doesn't matter big or small, will know what awaits him if he attacks international order. Any aggressor is going to lose."
Downing Street said the surprise visit would also see Zelensky visit Ukrainian troops before meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
It comes shortly after Rishi Sunak announced plans to train Ukrainian pilots, paving the way for them eventually being able to fly sophisticated Nato-standard jets, a key request from Mr Zelensky.
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news...
Zelensky warns 'evil' still present in his country
Zelensky warned that "evil" was still present in his country and it needed to fight on.
He said: "Evil is still around around today and the battle continues. Yes, we know how it's going to end and how we are going to feel on the day victory comes. Every day we continue to pay with lives.
"Pain and tears for bringing victory closer, with the lives of our people, our heroes, whom we lose in battles, with the lives of our heroes who take life and death risks every day to save as many of our soldiers and civilians as possible."
Zelensky calls for West to ramp up sanctions against the Kremlin
The hero leader has called on the West to continue ramping up sanctions against the Kremlin.
Mr Zelensky told Westminster Hall that Britain provided "preventive" support for Ukraine before the invasion "exactly as it will be necessary every time in the future to prevent aggression from happening".
He said: "We must take these principles of preventive aid to those who are threatened with aggression and preventive sanctions against those who threaten aggression as basic principles of the world anti-war policy."
He continued: "We put together a powerful sanction coalition and your leadership is protecting the international legal order through sanctions against a terrorist state cannot be questioned.
"And we have to steadily continue along this way until Russia is deprived of any possibility to finance the war."
Zelensky cracks joke about planes to finish off speech
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his address to Parliament to urge the UK and the West to provide fighter jets, telling MPs: "Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom."
But Mr Zelensky cheekily made a joke about planes at the end of the speech.
He gave a wry smile as he said "I know that today I will thank you for your planes".
Ukrainian victory will deter 'aggressors around the world'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a Ukrainian victory against Russia will deter aggressors around the world.
The wartime leader told parliamentarians gathered in Westminster Hall: "We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose.
"And we really know that the victory will change the world and this will be a change that the world has long needed.
"The United Kingdom is marching with us towards the most, I think, the most important victory of our lifetime. It will be a victory over the very idea of the war.
"After we win together, any aggressor, it doesn't matter big or small, will know what awaits him if he attacks international order...
"Any aggressor is going to lose."
Zelenksy thanks Rishi for long range missiles
The Ukrainian president has thanked Rishi Sunak.
He said the delivery of long-range missiles will "allow us to make the evil completely retreat from our country".
Zelenksy hails Britain for it's 'strong character'
Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the "strong British character" that had been shown in response to the Russian invasion.
He told Parliament: "You didn't compromise Ukraine and hence you didn't compromise your ideals and thus you didn't compromise the spirit of these great islands.
"Thank you very much."
More of Zelensky's rousing speech
Mr Zelensky told Westminster hall: "I have come here and stand before you on behalf of the brave, on behalf of our war heroes who are now in the trenches under enemy artillery fire, on behalf of our air gunners, and every defender of the sky who protects Ukraine against enemy aircraft and missiles, on behalf of our tank men who fight to restore our Ukrainian borders, on behalf of our conscripts who are being trained now including here in Britain."
We know Russia will lose, warns Zelensky
He says he knows that their win will change the win.
Zelensky also says it is "a change the world needed" and that Ukraine's success will be "the most important change of our lifetime.
"Any aggressor will lose"
Zelensky thanks Britain on behalf of war heroes
Volodymyr Zelensky began his speech in Parliament by thanking Britain on behalf of his country's "war heroes".
Addressing MPs and peers in the ancient Westminster Hall, the Ukrainian President said: "The people of the United Kingdom and their honourable representatives, all the people of England and Scotland, of Wales and Northern Ireland, of all the lands which have been home to brave souls since Europe came into existence."
Zelensky thanks Boris Johnson personally
The president has also thanked Boris Johnson personally.
He also described how it felt to sit in Winston Churchill;'s armchair.
He recounted a time he visited the War Rooms beneath Whitehall.
Zelensky: Bravery takes you through unimaginable hardships
Mr Zelensky says the people in Ukraine will "be rewarded with victory".
He continues: "We thank you for all of your bravery."
He adds: "London has stood with Kyiv since day one."
'London has stood with Kyiv since day one'
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked former prime minister Boris Johnson for the support he showed as Russia launched its invasion.
The Ukrainian president said: "London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react.
"Boris: you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. Thank you."
Lindsay says Zelenksy's address is 'historic'
MPs, including Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, gathered in Westminster Hall to hear Volodymyr Zelensky's address to Parliament.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the Ukrainian President: "This Hall has been the place of many great historical events. Your presence here today adds another to them."
He added: "As you told us last year, this is a war that Ukraine did not start and did not want. But it is a war you have had to fight.
"And our commitment to support you and your people has not wavered."
'I stand before you on behalf of the brave'
Mr Zelensky said: "I stand before you on behalf of the brave, on behalf of our soldiers who are right now under artillery fire."
Zelensky takes to the stage with Churchillian-esque speech
He speaks in English as he thanks the people of the UK for their help.
"I stand before you on behalf of the brave, the war heroes, who are in the trenches", he continues.
"On behalf of out conscripts, some of who are being trained here - thank you Britain."
Lindsay Hoyle speaks of the horror of war
"Horrors that cannot be avoided or denied," Mr Hoyle said as he spoke of the Government's shock at the brutality of the war.
Ukraine's "refusal to let war destroy them defines their ideals".
He pledged the UK would do it all it can to fight "that Russian aggressor".
Sir Lindsay Hoyle introduces Mr Zelensky
The Speaker of the House of Commons is introducing Volodymyr Zelensky, thanking him for speaking to Parliament during the first weeks of the war.
"The war, as you know better than any of us, has lasted for almost a year," he said.
"As you told us last year, this is a war Ukraine did not start," he added.
Zelensky walks out to rapturous applause
Mr Zelensky is receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he makes his way to the front of the grea\t hall.
The crowd wooped and cheered as he took centre stage.
Speech is about to start
President Zelensky is due to talk un five minutes' time.
It's the first time the Ukrainian president has addressed MPs and Peers in person.
We'll have all the live updates of the speech right here.
Pictured: MPs and Peers pack into Westminster Hall ahead of Zelesnky's speech
Sunak hopes to see war crime indictments linked to Russia 'very shortly'
Rishi Sunak said he is hopeful of seeing the first International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments linked to Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine "very shortly".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked Mr Sunak if he agreed that "Putin and all his cronies must stand at The Hague and face justice" once the war is over.
Mr Sunak replied: "He's absolutely right that we must hold those to account for the horrific crimes that they have committed.
"I'm proud the United Kingdom has played, again, a leadership role in this regard being one of the first countries to provide financial and technical support, putting investigators on the ground, we're shortly to be hosting a conference together with the Dutch.
"And also one of the things I discussed with President Zelensky this morning is our support for the work of the ICC where, thanks to the efforts of UK members, I'm hopeful we will see the first indictments very shortly."
Labour leader 'welcomes' PM's extra support for Ukraine
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Can I welcome the additional support the Prime Minister has outlined today. I've had the privilege, I'm sure he has, of seeing first hand the brilliant work our military is doing Salisbury to train Ukrainians in defending themselves.
"We all support this work and the UK's role in the international drive to ensure that Ukraine has the weapons and the technology required to defend herself. Does he agree that continuing this international effort is the only way to ensure Putin's defeat?"
Rishi Sunak replied: "The House may not all be aware that actually we have continued to train Ukrainian soldiers because it's something that we have done for years before the conflict started and something that we should be very proud of.
"But obviously we've intensified those efforts, last year we trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers through Operation Interflex. This year the Defence Secretary announced that (in) last year we'll be training 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers in addition to the marines and air force pilots that I mentioned earlier.
He added: "This has been an international effort. One thing that is a mark of UK leadership in this particular area is that around a dozen other countries have all come here to the UK to take part in our training programmes to support Ukrainian soldiers.
"Many members from around this House will have visited in their constituencies that effort. It's something that's making an incredible difference on the ground and I know something that President Zelensky is incredibly grateful for."
PM faces calls to ban Wagner Group as a 'symbolic' gesture
The Prime Minister faced calls to ban the Wagner mercenary group as a "symbolic" gesture on the day of President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey told the Commons: "When President Zelensky addressed this House last year, he asked that we treat Russia as a terrorist state. Since then, Liberal Democrats have been urging the Government to fulfil that request by proscribing the Wagner mercenary group.
"They are doing Putin's bidding carrying out atrocities against Ukrainians on a daily basis. So on this symbolic day will the Prime Minister finally commit to proscribing the Wagner Group, a crucial part of treating Russia as the rogue state that it is?"
Rishi Sunak replied: "We have taken a lead from the beginning of this conflict in sanctioning and taking action against those entities connected with the war effort in Russia and beyond.
"With regard to Wagner Group he will know that we have already sanctioned the Wagner Group in its entirety as well as taking specific action against particular leaders, as he will know.
"With regard to proscriptions, it is not something that we would routinely comment on in public, but rest assured we continue to keep all of the proscriptions that we have under review."
Boris Johnson welcomes Zelensky back to the UK
Former Prime Minister Bors Johnson has welcomed the Ukrainian president back to the UK.
He tweeted: "Welcome back to the UK @ZelenskyyUa.
"Look forward to hearing you address Parliament."
PM tells house of his 'pride' at coming together to support Ukraine
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the country and Commons can be "proud that we came together to stand by Ukraine when the moment mattered".
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "This House is honoured to be addressed today by President Zelensky. From the outset of the war he has symbolised the heroism, the resolve, and the bravery of his people.
"The Prime Minister and I joined this House together in 2015. We've lived through important moments in our domestic and international politics. But none of those experiences compares to the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine.
"Does the Prime Minister agree with me that right across this House it is vital that we all continue to stand together in full support of Ukraine?"
"It's something that not only the whole country can be proud of, but the entire House can be proud that we came together to stand by Ukraine when the moment mattered, and that we will continue to stand with them, united, as one Parliament and one United Kingdom."
