Invoking Shakespeare and Churchill, Zelensky addresses U.K. Parliament

Speaking live on video to British lawmakers in Parliament Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the U.K. for its assistance after Russia invaded his country. Zelensky, paraphrasing Shakespeare and Winston Churchill in his remarks, said Ukrainians will continue to resist the Russian invasion and urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to enact further sanctions against Russia and declare it a terrorist state.

Video Transcript

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY THROUGH INTERPRETER: The question for us now is to be or not to be. Oh, no, this is Shakespearean question. For 13 days, this question could have been asked. But now I can give you a definitive answer. It's definitely yes, to be.

And I would like to remind you the words that the United Kingdom have already heard and which are important. Again, we will not give up, and we will not lose. We will fight 'til the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets. I would like to add that we will fight on the banks of different rivers, like Dnieper.

And we are looking for your help, for the help of the civilized countries. We are thankful for this help, and we-- and I'm very grateful to you, Boris. Please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country. And please recognize this country as a terrorist state.

And please make sure that our Ukrainian skies are safe. Please make sure that you do what needs to be done and what is stipulated by the greatness of your country. Best of all to Ukraine and to the United Kingdom.

[APPLAUSE]