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(CNN Spanish) --
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, made a surprise visit to the United Kingdom this Wednesday, in the first leg of an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals, with a powerful message for British lawmakers.
On his second trip abroad since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago, Zelensky delivered a speech to the joint chambers of Britain's Parliament, deftly appealing to the national ego while making a direct call for more heavy weaponry, including aircraft. of combat.
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"London has been with Kyiv since day one," he said.
"From the first seconds and minutes of this full-scale war, Great Britain offered a helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react."
In a touching but carefully crafted gesture, Zelensky presented House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with the helmet of a Ukrainian fighter pilot, signed with the message: "We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it."
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Zelensky's message was directed firmly at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the cabinet members of his government who stood before him in the historic setting of Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, where the late Queen Elizabeth lies. and where US President Obama gave a similar speech in 2011.
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He thanked the British leader, who had earlier announced that the UK would start training Ukrainian pilots in the use of fighter jets under NATO standard.
He also mentioned former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of Ukraine's earliest and staunchest supporters.
"Boris, you got the others to join in when it seemed utterly, utterly impossible," Zelensky said.
"Thank you".
Then, addressing the general public, he said: "You, all of you, all of you showed your courage and character at the time. Strong British character."
Zelensky landed in Britain at a time when Kyiv is urging the West to send more arms and military support to counter Russian advances.
The Ukrainian president is expected to travel to Paris on Wednesday evening, where he will be received by French President Emmanuel Macron, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to the Elysee Palace.
Sunak greeted Zelensky at Stansted airport, north London, after landing aboard a British Royal Air Force C-17 transport plane.
Sunak tweeted a photo of the two embracing on the track.
"Welcome to the UK, President Zelensky," he captioned the photo, adding the hashtag #GlorytoUkraine.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses British MPs at Westminster Hall, London, England, on February 8.
(Credit: Stefan Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images)
Later, he traveled to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles III, who told Zelensky: "We have all been concerned about you and thinking about your country for so long, I cannot tell you."
Zelensky said in a Telegram message after his audience with the king that he congratulated Charles III "on his recent accession to the throne and wished the British people peace and prosperity."
"It is an honor for me to be the first Ukrainian president in the history of Ukrainian-British relations to be honored by the British monarch with an audience," he added.
"I am grateful to Her Majesty for the warm welcome and for supporting the Ukrainian citizens who have taken refuge from the war in the UK," Zelensky said.
Zelensky was also scheduled to visit Ukrainian troops being trained by British forces on Wednesday.
In his speech before Parliament, Zelensky laid out the arguments for the Russian defeat.
"We know Russia will lose. We know victory will change the world, and it will be a change the world needed. Britain is marching with us towards the most important victory of our lives. Victory over the very idea of war."
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, left, holds the helmet of one of Ukraine's most successful pilots, inscribed 'We have freedom, give us wings to protect it', which was presented to him by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, inside the Palace of Westminster, on February 8.
(Credit: Stefan Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images)
"After we win, any aggressor, no matter how big or small, will know what to expect if he attacks the international order," he continued.
Handing over the helmet to spokesman Hoyle, Zelensky said it belonged to "a genuine Ukrainian pilot" who was "one of our most successful aces."
"The inscription on the helmet reads: 'We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it.'"
"I am confident that this symbol will help us for our next coalition, the coalition of planes. And I appeal to you and to the world with simple and yet very important words: fighter planes for Ukraine. Wings for freedom."
Zelensky's visit to London is only the second he has made outside his country since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago, following his visit to Washington in December.
The trip comes as Zelensky has been desperately seeking military aid from Western allies as Ukrainian authorities warn that Moscow is preparing for a spring offensive.
London announced on Wednesday that it would send more military hardware to Kyiv to help counter a possible Russian spring offensive.
Sunak stated that the UK would expand training for Ukrainian fighter pilots and marines, while pledging long-term investment in Ukraine's military.
Ukrainian pilot training
The UK will begin training Ukrainian pilots on fighters to NATO standards, in what CNN understands would be the first official training program for Ukrainian pilots on Western fighters.
However, there was no mention of the possibility of providing Ukraine with the Western fighter jets that Zelensky has been asking for.
King Charles III, left, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he welcomes him at Buckingham Palace, London, England, on February 8.
(Aaron Chown/AFP/Getty Images)
Kyiv is likely to welcome the news that the UK's training program is being extended to fighter jets, as Ukrainian authorities have long called for Western allies to supply the planes.
The UK is "actively" studying the possibility of sending British fighter jets to Ukraine, Sunak's official spokesman said on Wednesday, according to PA Media.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is investigating which planes could be delivered to Ukraine, but Downing Street maintained that no decision had yet been made on supplying the planes.
"I think you can see from the steps we are taking that we are willing to put Ukraine in the position where, once the pilot training targets are achieved, they will be able to fly these types of jets," the spokesman said. Prime Minister.
"What we haven't made a decision on is whether we will send UK fighter jets. Obviously, there is an ongoing debate among other countries about their own fighter jets, some of which are more akin to what the Ukrainian pilots They are used to it," he added.
The UK has so far refused to send its Eurofighter Typhoon or F-35 fighters to Ukraine, claiming it was not "the right approach".
However, this Wednesday's announcement raises hopes that a change in attitude may take place in the future.
The UK also said it would provide Ukraine with "longer-reaching capabilities," Downing Street said, without elaborating.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses British MPs at Westminster Hall, London, England, on February 8.
(Stefan Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images)
NATO allies recently responded to Kyiv's requests for main battle tanks to bolster its army, which until now relied on Soviet-era tanks.
The UK was the first to announce in mid-January that it would send 12 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
After weeks of pressure, Germany and the United States announced the shipment of Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams, respectively.
During Zelensky's visit, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced more sanctions against "the Russian military and Kremlin elites."
The British package targets six entities that supply military hardware, such as drones, as well as eight individuals and one entity linked to "nefarious financial networks that help maintain wealth and power among Kremlin elites," according to a report. government statement.
The British government has already imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities since last February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, according to British government data.
War in UkraineUnited KingdomVolodymyr Zelensky
