Several Sussex MPs tweeted from the House of Commons yesterday to express their solidarity with Ukraine and to comment on President Zelenskyy's "powerful" speech.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the House of Commons on a screen set up in the chamber, with over 600 MPs in attendance.
He vowed to "fight to the end" against Russia as he appealed for more help from the UK in a historic address.
Echoing Winston Churchill's "we shall fight on the beaches" speech to the same chamber in 1940, he vowed: "We will fight until 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."
And quoting Shakespeare, Mr Zelensky said the question for Ukraine is "to be, or not to be.. it's definitely yes, to be".
It is the first time a foreign leader has directly addressed MPs in the Commons.
Brighton & Hove Green MP Caroline Lucas was the first to tweet on the proceedings, observing that the translator's voice had been cracking during the speech:
Day 1, day 2, day 3 …
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) March 8, 2022
President Zelenskiy goes through a calendar of horror as he describes the development of this hideous war
The translator’s voice is cracking
There’s determination across the House to #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 & to secure peace pic.twitter.com/fMUJ7liwA2
She later tweeted that she supported ending dependence on Russian oil and she called it an "embarrassment" that the UK hadn't been quicker in coming forward to help Ukrainian refugees.
Health minister and MP for Lewes Maria Caulfield said it was "moving" to hear Zelenskyy's speech adding later that more companies should make a stand like Coca-Cola and pull sales lout of Russia.
Very moving to have the privilege to hear @ZelenskyyUa speak to us in the House of Commons today. We fully support Ukraine 🇺🇦 in their fight against Russia pic.twitter.com/gSV71z3C3d
— Maria Caulfield MP (@mariacaulfield) March 8, 2022
MP for Crawley Henry Smith said it had been a privilege to see the address:
Today it was a privilege to see Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy address the House of Commons from Kyiv following Russia’s appalling attack on his democratic nation.
— Henry Smith MP 🇬🇧 (@HenrySmithUK) March 8, 2022
Earlier I met with Ukrainian parliamentary foreign affairs counterparts.
UK support is so much appreciated. 🇬🇧🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/yp4n7lE6qL
MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton commented that he was a talented communicator and a brave politician:
It was very moving to be in the House of Commons Chamber to listen to him. He is a very talented communicator as well as a very brave politician. With his help Ukraine is winning the international propaganda war hands down. https://t.co/7cubVYHk6w
— Tim Loughton MP 🇺🇦 (@timloughton) March 8, 2022
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