In an historic speech evoking the words of Shakespeare and Winston Churchill, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed MPs in the House of Commons.

Kent MPs were among those packed into the chamber as Mr Zelensky spoke to them about the Russian invasion.

Speaking in Ukrainian, a translator relayed his words to MPs and afterwards he was met by a standing ovation.

Kent representatives have responded to what they heard following the address at 5pm.

Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) said: "In a 70ft long chamber, 600+ MPs sat in complete silence, along with peers and journalists in the gallery, to listen to an unprecedented address from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"It was extraordinarily powerful. SlavaUkraini"

Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) spoke about Mr Zelensky's reference to Shakespeare in which he asked "'To be or not to be?' Your answer is 'to be'."

"Mr Zelensky and people of Ukraine, your courage is an inspiration to the world.

"As we applaud you in the UK Parliament, we support you in our words and most importantly we support you in our actions. We stand with Ukraine. SlavaUkraine."

Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling) said after quoting Churchill's famous "we will fight them on the beaches" speech during the Second World War, Mr Zelensky had "again showed what leadership means".

Mr Zelensky said: "Mr Speaker, all the Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, I am addressing all the people of the United Kingdom and all the people from the country with a big history.

“I am addressing you as a citizen, as a president, of also a big country, with a dream and big effort.

"I would like to tell you about the 13 days of war, the war that we didn’t start and we didn’t want. However we have to conduct this war, we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours, our country Ukraine.

"Just the same way you once didn’t want to lose your country when the Nazis started to fight your country and you had to fight for Britain."

He then went through events of the conflict so far before coming to a key question.

"The question for us now is to be or not to be. Oh no, this Shakespearean question. For 13 days this question could have been asked but now I can give you a definitive answer. It’s definitely yes, to be.

“And I would like to remind you the words that the United Kingdom have already heard, which are important again. We will not give up and we will not lose.

“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.

“We will fight until the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost..."

“I’d like to add that we will fight on the banks of different rivers and we’re looking for your help, for the help of the civilised countries.

“We’re thankful for this help and I’m very grateful to you Boris, please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country (Russia), please recognise this country as a terrorist state and please make sure our Ukrainian skies are safe.

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

“Glory to Ukraine and glory to the United Kingdom.”

Shortly after Mr Zelensky's address, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the UK will stop importing Russian oil and "move away from dependence on Russian oil throughout this year".