‘Wings for freedom’ – Zelenskyy urges UK to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft and calls Ukrainian pilots kings

Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Westminster Hall to speak to MPs and Lords.

The President of Ukraine presented the Speaker of the Commons with a helmet of one of the Ukrainian pilots with the inscription "We have freedom, give us wings to protect it" and emphasized that it should become a symbol of the coalition of aircraft.

"In Ukraine today, every pilot of the Armed Forces is a king. Only for us, because there are so few of them and they are very valuable to us. Our kings are doing their best to save lives, and they hope to get new planes. I believe that this (helmet - ed.) is a symbol of our new coalition - the coalition of airplanes. We need combat aircraft. Airplanes are wings for freedom," the Ukrainian leader urged.

Zelenskyy also expressed hope that when he leaves the British parliament today, he would be able to thank for the jets for Ukraine. 

"Thank you for your support. When I left the British parliament 2 years ago, I thanked you for the delicious English tea. And I will be leaving the Parliament today, thanking all of you in advance for powerful English aircraft," the president of Ukraine said.

• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the UK on February 8 to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III.