'I am not hiding, I am not afraid': Zelenskyy sends Russia defiant message from Kyiv

8 March 2022, 01:21 | Updated: 8 March 2022, 09:38

Zelenskyy gave an address on the 12th day of the conflict.
Zelenskyy gave an address on the 12th day of the conflict. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dispelled rumours he left Kyiv in a defiant video address, declaring he is "not afraid" and will remain in the capital 'until Ukraine wins the war'.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

President Zelenskyy revealed his location and said he was "not afraid" of remaining in Kyiv, hours before he is due to make an unprecedented address to UK MPs.

"Here is Kyiv in the evening," he said, showing the view from his window filmed using a phone.

"Our office, Monday evening."

Addressing the phone camera as he walks through the offices, he said we "get used to saying Monday is a tough day" but "every day is Monday" in a war-torn country.

As he sat down in his office, he put the phone down and directly addressed a camera in front of him.

"I stay here in Kyiv, at Bankova Street," he said.

"I don't hide and I am not afraid of anyone.

"I will stay as long as it is necessary to win in our patriotic war."

Read more: 'I've been there': Matt Hancock defends under-fire Home Office over Ukraine refugee visas

Read more: Michael Gove warns Russia's invasion is the world's biggest crisis since 9/11

President Zelenskyy also owed to hunt down and kill "every b*****d" who targeted fleeing civilians after Vladimir Putin outlined his demands for the end of the conflict.

Speaking during a televised address, Mr Zelenskyy said: "How many families have died in Ukraine? We will not forgive. We will not forget.

He continued: "We will punish everyone who committed atrocities in this war. On our land. We will find every b*****d. Which shot at our cities, our people. Which bombed our land. Which launched rockets. Which gave the order and pressed 'start'.

"There will be no quiet place on this Earth for you. Except for the grave."

Ukraine Crisis: Andrew Marr hears from Ambassador Barbara Woodward

As fighting intensifies in the east, Mr Zelenskyy is set to give a "historic address" in the House of Commons on Tuesday via video link.

It is thought he will reiterate calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine - something the West has so far refused amid concerns of starting a third world war.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he had granted the request for Mr Zelenskyy to read the statement, saying: "Every parliamentarian wants to hear directly from the president, who will be speaking to us live from Ukraine, so this is an important opportunity for the House.

"Thanks again to our incredible staff for working at pace to make this historic address possible."

Ukraine Crisis: Andrew Marr hears from journalist John Sweeney

The speech will follow the decision from British MPs to introduce tougher sanctions for oligarchs - fast-tracked due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill cleared the House of Commons on Monday evening, soon to face further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

The move means a new register of overseas entities will be established, requiring foreign owners of property in the UK to declare their true identity.

Michael Gove's stark warning on magnitude of Ukraine crisis

It comes after the Kremlin outlined its terms for a peace deal with Ukraine on Monday.

After 12 days of intense fighting, Putin's spokesman claimed the war could be stopped "in a moment" if Kyiv agreed to a series of demands from Moscow.

They included: Ukraine ceasing military action, changing its constitution to enshrine neutrality, acknowledgement that Crimea is a Russian territory and recognition of the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territories.

Read more: MPs back tougher sanctions against oligarchs under new fast-tracked law

Read more: David Miliband 'embarrassed and disappointed' in UK response to Ukrainian refugee crisis

Matthew Thompson reports from Ukrainian border

Russian and Ukrainian delegates sat down for a third round of peace talks on Monday, but they showed little progress.

Ukraine accused Russia of continuing to attack, despite Moscow's promise of a ceasefire and safe passages for civilians to leave.

The latest update from the UK's Ministry of Defence said: "Ukrainian resistance against a Russian offensive towards Kyiv endures around the nearby towns of Hostomel, Bucha, Vorzel and Irpin.

"Russia continues to directly target evacuation corridors, resulting in the death of several civilians whilst trying to evacuate Irpin.

"Due to heavy fighting in the town, it has reportedly been without heat, water or electricity for several days."

On Monday evening, Mr Johnson spoke with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with the four leaders vowing to "continue to apply pressure on Russia to isolate Putin diplomatically and economically".

A No 10 spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister stressed that our goal must be ensuring Putin's failure in this act of aggression against Ukraine."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Westminster Protest

'Betrayed' farmers to protest over Labour's inheritance tax raid - as Chancellor insists changes are 'fair'

Police crime scene tape UK

Six teenagers arrested after 13-year-old girl left with life-threatening injuries in East Yorkshire stabbing

Israel claims to have killed a high-ranking member of Hamas

Israel 'eliminates' one of Hamas' last high-ranking officials

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

King Charles 'finally cuts Prince Andrew off' as he 'axes Duke's annual £1m allowance'

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Pictured: Public schoolboy, 17, who attacked sleeping students and teacher with hammers he kept 'for zombie apocalypse'

Emergency and rescue personnel work at the site where a concrete outdoor roof of a train station collapsed in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad

Train station canopy collapses in Serbia, killing 8 people in horror accident, with more victims still trapped in rubble

The passengers was fined £48 despite their bag fitting.

Air passenger shames easyJet on TikTok after he was charged £48 for carry-on bag that fit perfectly into size checker

Gabriel Silvera and  Dragos Carabineanu

Thug kills father with one punch after being asked for a cigarette outside Tube station

File photo dated 26/07/24 of Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, England’s Test and limited-overs captains respectively, have each signed new two-year central contracts. Issue date: Thursday October 31, 2024.

Man arrested after home of England cricket captain Ben Stokes raided by masked burglars

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher named

Tube strikes have been called off

Tube strikes called off after significantly improved pay offer, union announces

Two people look out over an area affected by floods in Chiva, Spain

More than 200 confirmed dead in 'devastating' flash floods as red rain alert issued for Spanish region

Ruben Amorim has been confirmed as Manchester United's new head coach

Manchester United appoint Ruben Amorim as new head coach after sacking of Erik ten Hag

Holly Newton

Mum of murdered teen Holly Newton says CCTV was like 'horror movie' as ex-boyfriend jailed for her murder

Logan Macphail has been jailed for life for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Holly Newton

'Jealous' teen stalker jailed for life after stabbing to death 15-year-old ex-girlfriend after she dumped him

Jose 28

Tributes pour in for former Valencia footballer, 28, killed in Spanish flash floods - as up to 400 feared dead