Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address Australian Parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver an important message to Australian politicians, as the war with Russia continues to rage on.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to deliver a message to the Australian Parliament, as his country continues to defend against the Russian invasion.

Parliament will be briefly suspended at 5.30pm on Thursday to allow Mr Zelensky to make his address via video link.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will each welcome the Ukrainian President ahead of the speech, with Mr Zelensky expected to thank Australia for its ongoing support in the face of Russia’s invasion.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to deliver a video address to the Australian Parliament on Thursday. Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP

However, the timing of his address has 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 on Thursday, 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.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will welcome Mr Zelensky tomorrow. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Parts of the address 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”.

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

Russia vows to scale down attacks

It has been almost five weeks since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine on February 24.

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.

Now, Moscow has vowed to scale down fighting around Kyiv and another major city, following talks between the two nations in Istanbul.

Following the talks in Turkey, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said there were “sufficient” conditions for Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin to meet in a bid to end Europe’s worst conflict in decades.

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said there had been progress in talks on “the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine”.

“A decision has been made to radically, by several times reduce the military activity” around the capital Kyiv and the city of Chernigiv, he said.

Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said there had been a “meaningful discussion” at the talks.

But the United States immediately cast doubt on Moscow’s words, and Western leaders vowed to keep “raising the costs” on Russia for its invasion.

Mr Zelensky has sounded a note of cautious optimism following the talks, though he said the “positive” signals “do not drown out the explosions or Russian shells”.

– with AFP