Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received a standing ovation and cheers from parliament as he called on the UK and the West to provide Ukraine with fighter jets during a surprise visit to London.
The Ukrainian president is the first foreign leader to address parliamentarians in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of parliament, since former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now in jail, in 2012.
Wearing his usual outfit of military fatigues, Mr Zelenskyy entered the famous hall, where the Queen’s coffin lay in state, to a standing ovation and cheers from MPs and peers.
“We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose.”
He thanked “all the people of England and Scotland, of Wales and Northern Ireland” for their support, on behalf of “our fighters who are now in the trenches under enemy artillery fire”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received a handful of mentions from his Ukrainian counterpart, especially as he thanked the PM for providing more equipment to his country.
After saying he will “have the honour” to meet King Charles, Mr Zelenskyy presented the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, with a signed helmet from “one of our most successful” Ukrainian Air Force pilots.
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“He’s one of our kings,” he said.
“And the writing on the helmet reads: ‘We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it’.”
He added: “In Britain, the King is an air force pilot and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king.”
Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands in Westminster Hall with Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Image: Sir Lindsay Hoyle held up the pilot’s helmet given to him by Mr Zelenskyy
Tea jokes and plea for planes
Mr Zelenskyy said he hoped the symbol of the helmet will help for their “next coalition of planes”.
He added: “I appeal to you, and the word is simple, and the most important words: Combat aircraft for Ukraine are wings for freedom.”
The Ukrainian president finished his speech by thanking parliamentarians for their support.
“And leaving British parliament two years ago, I thanked you for delicious English tea,” he said to laughter.
“And I will be leaving the parliament today thanking all of you in advance for powerful English planes.
Zelenskyy’s powerful message to MPs achieved a rare feat
Westminster Hall has hosted some of the world’s most iconic political figures and today was no exception.
On the famous steps where Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela have previously stood, President Zelenskyy addressed an enraptured audience of MPs and Parliamentary staff.
For a man who has been thrust onto the world stage under the most horrifying circumstances he continues to conduct himself with strength, poise and a sense of humour.
He told the story of his first state visit to London in 2020, when he visited Buckingham Palace and Parliament and was invited to sit in a chair in Churchill’s war room.
Back then he said he could not put the feeling into words but now he knew it was “how bravery takes you through unimaginable hardship to victory”.
Later he joked that back then he was thankful for the “delicious English tea” he had been given, but that this time it was the “powerful English planes” for which he was most grateful.
The Ukrainian President went on to pay tribute to Britain for being the first to stand side by side with him and his people in the face of Russian aggression.
In particular he thanked Boris Johnson for rallying international allies when the conflict began almost a year ago, and Rishi Sunak for the ongoing military support, more of which has been announced today.
Looking ahead to his meeting with King Charles he said that the monarch was “a King who had been an air force pilot” and that in Ukraine “every air force pilot is a king”.
At that moment he presented Parliament’s Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with a gift – the helmet of one of Ukraine’s most successful fighter pilots, inscribed with an arresting phrase: “We have freedom, give us wings to protect it’”.
The address went on for no more than half an hour but it was undoubtedly a moment that will last in the minds of those present and beyond.
And its powerful message achieved that rare fete – uniting Westminster, in admiration for the Ukrainian President’s resilience and determination to support him to victory.
“God bless Great Britain and long, long live the King. Slava Ukraini.”
Mr Zelenskyy was then driven to Buckingham Palace to have a meeting with the King, who was seen dashing back from an appointment through Westminster.
Following the speech, Mr Sunak asked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to investigate what jets the UK could give to Ukraine.
Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy greeted his good friend Boris Johnson after the speech
Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets King Charles
UK doesn’t have fighter jets to offer Ukraine
By Prof Michael Clarke, defence and security analyst
Volodymyr Zelenskyy clearly wants to do what he can to get these jets from the UK as quickly as possible.
But he won’t be getting any jets from the UK because we don’t have any that we can offer.
The Eurofighter isn’t the right type, the Typhoon isn’t the right jet for him.
What he needs are Gripen fighters and F-16s, the American fighter, maybe Mirage fighters.
But what he will get from Britain, and get quite a lot of, is pilot training because we have very good simulation training. We could train up existing fighter pilots, those who are flying MiG-29s now in Ukraine could be trained on to American or other European or NATO fighters through simulation techniques within a matter of weeks – three or four weeks probably.
His demand for fighters is addressing the wrong country because we literally don’t have them to offer. However, his demand, in a way, is to the whole of the Western alliance.
Boris Johnson gets personal thanks
Former prime minister Boris Johnson, who has a close relationship with Mr Zelenskyy and has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal backers, was spotted in the crowd of politicians.
The Ukrainian leader singled out Mr Johnson, thanking him personally for extending “your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react”. They then shared a long handshake and brief chat as the Ukrainian left the hall.
Following the speech, Mr Johnson reiterated his calls for the UK to increase its support for Ukraine with longer-range missiles and artillery, as well as more tanks and Typhoon jets.
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Watch Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s full address to Westminster Hall
Mr Zelenskyy added to parliament that the UK “showed your grit and character” and the “strong British character” at the beginning of the war.
“You did not compromise your ideals and thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of this great alliance. Thank you very much,” he added.
He received one of many ovations after saying: “Do you have a feeling that the evil will crumble once again? I can see in your eyes now we think the same way as you do.
“We know freedom will win. We know. We know Russia will lose.
“And we really know the victory. The victory will change the world. And this will be a change that the world has long needed.”
Image: Mr Zelenskyy was clapped into Downing Street. Pic: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
Winston Churchill also got a mention as Mr Zelenskyy said two and a half years ago he came to London, when he had just been made president, and sat in Winston Churchill’s armchair “from which war orders were given” at the Churchill War Rooms.
“I certainly felt something, but it is only now that I know what the feeling was – and all Ukrainians know it perfectly well too,” he told parliamentarians.
“It is the feeling of how bravery takes you through the most unimaginable hardships to finally reward you with victory.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your bravery, from all of us.”
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Rishi Sunak welcomed Zelenskyy
Surprise visit
The unannounced visit was only Mr Zelenskyy’s second outside Ukraine since Russia invaded last February. He travelled to the United States just before Christmas and stopped off in Poland on the way back.
Moments after Mr Zelenskyy arrived, the UK imposed further sanctions on companies supplying equipment to Russia for the war and Russians connected to “nefarious financial networks”, helping the Kremlin elites maintain wealth and power.
Mr Sunak also announced an “immediate” surge of military equipment for Ukraine, an offer to train 20,000 more Ukrainian troops, plus training for fighter jet pilots so they can fly NATO-standard fighter jets, and a training programme for marines.
The UK has seen its warmest start to May on record as temperatures soared to over 29C in the spring sunshine.
The Met Office said 29.3C (84.7F) had been recorded at Kew Gardens in southwest London, passing the previous 1 May record of 27.4C (81.3F) set in Lossiemouth in 1990.
Thursday was also the warmest day of the year so far, beating the previous high of 26.7C (80F) reached in Wisley, Surrey, on Wednesday.
But the heat is not expected to last for the bank holiday weekend, with cooler weather starting to drift in from the north on Friday.
Temperatures are expected to ease by Friday and Saturday, meaning cooler conditions of 14C to 18C across the UK.
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: “Temperatures tomorrow will be slightly reduced from what we’ve seen today, possibly 26 or 27 degrees in the far southeast of England through the day tomorrow.”
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What has led to the hot spell?
Forecasters said the hot spell has been due to the jet stream remaining stuck north of the country, allowing high pressure to settle.
Last month was also the sunniest April in the UK since records began in 1910, with 47% more sunshine hours than the long-term meteorological average, and the third warmest April on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.
Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK last month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded.
And Tyne and Wear had its second driest April on record, with only 7% of its usual rainfall.
Scientists see fingerprints of climate change all over tumbling records
Britain has basked in the early taste of summer.
The warmest May Day, the third warmest April and a spring that has so far beaten temperature records dating back to 1884.
But this is more than just natural variation.
Scientists see the fingerprints of climate change all over the tumbling records.
Maps released by data analysts Climate Central show that across large parts of the country, human-induced climate change has made the high temperatures four or even five times more likely.
The warm – and dry – weather this spring has led to a steep rise in wildfires.
Figures from Europe’s satellite monitoring service Copernicus show that more than twice as much land has been burned so far this year in the UK as the average for a whole year.
Latest data shows 29,484 hectares (72,857 acres) have been scorched in 2025, compared to a yearly average of 12,613 hectares (31,167 acres) between 2012 and 2024.
Temperatures will fall sharply into the Bank Holiday weekend.
But the fire risk remains ‘very high to extreme’ across much of Scotland and ‘very high’ for large parts of England.
The warmth that brings joy to many of us also brings jeopardy.
Chief Inspector David Mather, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.”
Image: A lifeguard at London Fields Lido in east London. Pic: Reuters
The London Fire Brigade said its crews responded to 565 water-related incidents last year and have already attended around 160 in the first quarter of this year, with incidents ranging from rescuing people to animals stranded on lakes and ponds.
‘Water temperatures can be dangerously cold’
Assistant commissioner for prevention and protection Craig Carter said. “Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how fit or experienced they are. It can lead to water inhalation, and, in the worst cases, drowning.”
Image: People enjoy their ice creams during in St James’s Park, London. Pic: PA
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) offered similar warnings, advising those planning to swim at a lifeguarded beach to swim between the red and yellow flags.
Fire services warned that the warm weather means there is a “heightened” risk of grass and wildfires which can spread more easily during the dry spell, as firefighters have been battling what they described as a large wildfire in the Peak District.
The RAC also cautioned drivers on the roads, with spokesman Rod Dennis saying breakdowns are expected to “soar”, while the NHS reported searches for hay fever advice had doubled from Monday to Wednesday.
Further details of the apparent Harrods cyberattack were unclear on Thursday afternoon, although one customer of the upmarket store told Sky News he had been unable to pay for a purchase earlier in the day.
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In a statement issued in response to an enquiry from Sky News, a Harrods spokesperson said: “We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems.
“Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe, and as a result, we have restricted internet access at our sites today.
“Currently, all sites including our Knightsbridge store, H beauty stores and airport stores remain open to welcome customers.
“Customers can also continue to shop via harrods.com.
“We are not asking our customers to do anything differently at this point, and we will continue to provide updates as necessary.”
The concentration of cyber attacks on retailers underscores the growing centrality of the risk attached to consumer-facing companies’ online operations.
Harrods, which is owned by a Qatari sovereign wealth fund, is said to be engaging specialists to help resolve and investigate the issue.
M&S has been unable to accept online orders for the last week as a result of its cyber incident.
Police have revealed details around the dismissal of the co-instructor in a fatal paddleboarding trip.
Nerys Lloyd was jailed last month for the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40.
The 39-year-old had also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
They got into difficulty after their paddleboards passed over a weir in the town of Haverfordwest during “extremely hazardous conditions” in October 2021.
Lloyd was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, the firm which had organised the tour.
Image: (L-R) Nicola Wheatley, Andrea Powell, Paul O’Dwyer and Morgan Rogers. Pics: Family handouts (via South Wales Police)
The defendant, who worked as a firearms officer for South Wales Police, was separately accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour.
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The misconduct hearing took place on 14 January 2022, but the publication of the outcome was postponed.
Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, South Wales Police has published the outcome of the hearing, which details that Lloyd was accused of making a fraudulent insurance claim.
Lloyd was dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list.
Image: Nerys Lloyd (centre, on crutches) leaving Swansea Crown Court after her plea hearing. Pic: PA
The decision on the outcome, compiled after the hearing, states that Lloyd did not attend it and neither had she submitted a written response to the allegations.
Lloyd made a claim against the South Wales Police Federation group insurance scheme for her vehicle’s repair costs.
The cost of the work to repair the vehicle was somewhere between £16 and £20 but the insurance claim made by Lloyd was for £577.55.
The report into her dismissal states that, when the matter came to light, she admitted her wrongdoing and immediately apologised.
She was interviewed under caution on 11 October 2021, less than three weeks before the fatal paddleboarding tour.
When interviewed by police, Lloyd said she had made a “massive error of judgement” in relation to the insurance claim and she later repaid the amount in full.