Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stuns with Australian Parliament address

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a monumental address to the Australian Parliament, issuing a grim warning in his speech.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the Australian Parliament of the future global impacts if Russia is allowed to continue its invasion of his country.

Mr Zelensky issued the warning during an address in the Australian Parliament via video link on Thursday afternoon.

He warned that if Russia is not held to account, then other countries who have “similar aspirations” will follow suit, with Moscow’s aggression posing a “real threat” to Australia and the rest of the world.

“We can surely say that there is now only one way of bringing global security and bringing Russia to peace and silence,” he said.

Mr Zelensky accused Russia of “nuclear blackmail” and said more needs to be done to hold Moscow accountable for the horrific scenes taking place in Ukraine right now.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Parliament on Thursday afternoon.

The Ukrainian President received a standing ovation.

Mr Zelensky also referenced the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists over eastern Ukraine.

Everyone on board the flight died, including 38 Australians.

He suggested that if Russia had been punished for its role in the tragedy then the invasion of Ukraine may never have occurred.

“Did we manage to hold accountable those who caused this tragedy? No. Because they’re hiding in Russia,” Mr Zelensky said.

“So the unpunished evil comes back.

“If the world had punished Russia in 2014 for what it did, there wouldn’t be this invasion in Ukraine in 2022.”

The Ukrainian leader’s speech was livestreamed on the Australian Parliament House website and is also available to be watched in full at the top of this article.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed Mr Zelensky ahead of his address, with the president’s appearance sparking a huge round of applause from the parliament.

Mr Morrison praised the “incredible courage” of Ukrainians, adding “We stand with you Mr President”.

“And we do not stand with the war criminal of Moscow,” the PM said.

“The people of Australia stand with Ukraine in your fight for survival … yes you have our prayers but you also have our weapons.”

In response to a request from Mr Zelensky, the Australian Government will provide further $25 million in military support to Ukraine.

The support will be provided in partnership with the Australian defence industry to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, bringing Australia’s total military assistance so far to $116 million.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will welcome Mr Zelensky ahead of his address. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The extra support is in response to Russia’s “brutal, unrelenting and illegal invasion”, with the Australian Government saying it will continue to identify more opportunities for military assistance to Ukraine.

“We must continue to impose the maximum costs against Russia through targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, including President Putin and his circle of oligarchs and propagandists, military commanders and members of Parliament,” a statement from the PMO read.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese also welcomed Mr Zelensky ahead of his address, thanking him for sharing “previous minutes” with the parliament during such a difficult time.

“Putin and the regime that enables him will be met with determination and escalating consequences … his attempt to divide the West has brought us closer together,” he said.

“As you stand up to this latest tyrant you are showing us what true courage is, your excellency, it is a courage that is embodied by you.”

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, told ABC’s Radio National on Thursday morning that his country needed more help.

“We need some weapons – anti-tank missiles, anti-ship missiles, drones and other weapons – this is what we need to be able to maintain the military capabilities of the country, to be able to fight the Russians in Ukraine,” he said.

“They continue shelling cities and deliberately hitting civilians. We do need ammunition and weapons to be able to keep on fighting.”

Mr Myroshnychenko also said it was highly likely that the Ukrainian President would request support for a no-fly zone over the country.

“One of the options could be an adapted no-fly zone which could be established over part of Ukraine,” he said.

However, NATO has warned that enforcing a no-fly zone could be viewed by Russia as an act of war from the West – sparking a wider conflict.

Mr Zelensky has brought up the need for a no-fly zone to other major Western countries, all of which have responded with hesitancy.

Ahead of Mr Zelensky’s address, Mr Morrison announced further actions against Russia, with Australia to impose an additional tariff of 35 per cent for all imports from Russia and Belarus.

On April 1, Australia will issue a formal notification withdrawing entitlement to the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff treatment, with the additional tariff to take effect from April 25.

This will be in addition to general duty rates that currently apply.

Since the start of the invasion on February 24, Australia has provided $91 million in military assistance to Ukraine, $65 million in humanitarian assistance and 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal to meet Ukraine’s energy needs.

Australia has also joined in placing harsh international sanctions against Russia and many of the country’s wealthy oligarchs.

Mr Morrison has been open in his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, making it clear that Australia stands with Ukraine against Moscow.

The timing of Mr Zelensky’s address has also been questioned, with multiple media reports suggesting the government invited Mr Zelensky to speak just two hours before Mr Albanese is due to deliver his budget reply.

There is speculation Labor’s reply, due at 7.30pm, could be overshadowed by the Ukrainian President’s address.

Mr Morrison has previously flagged the possibility of the Ukrainian leader speaking to Parliament, with Mr Zelensky having already delivered major addresses to different governments, including to the US, European Union and the UK.

Mr Zelensky received a standing ovation following his 10 minute speech to the UK Parliament earlier this month.

MPs in the UK Parliament giving a standing ovation to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Picture: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP

Parts of the speech echoed Winston Churchill’s landmark address to the House of Commons in June 1940, with Mr Zelensky making a desperate plea to Western leaders for more help.

Echoing the wartime legend, he said: “We will not give up, and we will not lose. We will fight to the end.

“On the sea, in the air. We will fight for our land whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets.”

Appealing directly to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he said: “But please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country. And please recognise this country as a terrorist state.

“And please make sure that our skies are safe.

“Please make sure that you do what needs to be done and what is stipulated by the greatness of your country.”

The speech received a rare standing ovation from the UK parliament, with Mr Johnson saying his words “moved the hearts of everybody in this House”.

It has been five weeks since Mr Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine.

Since then thousands of people have been killed. Even more have ben injured and millions have been displaced.

Russian forces have been making their way towards Kyiv for weeks, but have still not managed to capture the capital.

Recent promises from Russia to scale down fighting around Kyiv have been meet with heavy scepticism, with Mr Zelensky saying “we don’t believe anyone”.

Russian forces have continued to bomb civilian areas, with the Ukrainian President saying his troops will continue to “fight for every metre of our territory” for as long as the invasion continues.