Zelensky: Ukraine Won’t Give Up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the UK House of Commons via video on Tuesday, saying Ukraine “will not give up” on defending itself against Russia.

Key Quotes:
“I’m addressing you as a citizen as a president of also a big country with a dream and big effort,” Zelensky started his address by saying.

“The question for us now is to be or not to be — that is a Shakespearean question,” he said. “I can give you a definitive answer. It’s definitely yes — to be.”

“We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight until the end at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost,” he added.


Zelensky also expressed his gratitude to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and asked the parliament to increase the pressure of sanctions against Russia and recognize it as a terrorist state. He also asked the UK lawmakers to ensure that the “Ukrainian skies are safe.”

The Ukrainian president also used a portion of his remarks to describe how Russia’s invasion has unfolded in the country.

The House of Commons gave Zelensky a standing ovation at the end of his address. Earlier today, US President Joe Biden said his administration is banning Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports to the US in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The US will make the move unilaterally, without its European allies, due to disagreement among European nations about whether to ban Russian energy imports. EU countries have significantly more exposure to Russian energy than the US.