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“Freedom will win,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said as he addressed Parliament during his first UK visit since Russia’s invasion.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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He called on the West to provide fighter jets, saying: “Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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His plea comes as the UK announced it will begin training Ukrainian forces to fly Nato-standard fighter jets. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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President Zelensky concluded his speech with the hope that he would soon be thanking the UK for providing planes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Addressing a huge crowd of MPs and peers in the historic setting of Westminster Hall, he said: “Freedom will win – we know Russia will lose,” adding the UK was with his country on a march to “the most important victory of our lifetime”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Thanking the UK for its “grit”, he said the country, through its support of Ukraine, had not compromised the “spirit and ideals of these great islands”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He also singled out Boris Johnson for praise saying the former prime minister had united others “when it seemed impossible”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n- Ukraine braced for new Russian offensive this month<\/li>\n
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During his speech, which was met throughout with applause, the Ukrainian leader gave the House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle the helmet of a Ukrainian pilot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The writing on the helmet reads: “We have freedom, give us wings to protect it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reflecting on his last visit to the UK, he recalled thanking his hosts “for delicious English tea”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“I will be leaving Parliament today, thanking you all in advance for powerful English planes.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n