Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy to make ‘historic address’ to British MPs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address British MPs via video link tomorrow.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has granted Mr Zelenskyy’s request to read a statement to the House of Commons at 5pm GMT on Tuesday.

It is expected he will ask for more arms and will repeat calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which Western leaders have so far denied as it could mean NATO having to shoot down Russian planes.

They fear it would risk a third world war.

“Every parliamentarian wants to hear directly from the president, who will be speaking to us live from Ukraine, so this is an important opportunity for the House,” the Speaker said.

“Thanks again to our incredible staff for working at pace to make this historic address possible.”

MPs will watch Mr Zelenskyy’s speech on screens being installed overnight above either side of the Commons’ chamber.

More than 500 headsets will also be made available so MPs can hear a simultaneous translation in English.

They will not be able to ask questions of the Ukrainian president after his speech.

Mr Zelenskyy has been addressing parliamentarians around the world, both privately and publicly, via video from Kyiv since Russia invaded 12 days ago.

He made a “desperate plea” to US Congress members over the weekend for further military aid not currently being supplied by the West, including anti-aircraft missiles, planes and drones.