President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s address to the Icelandic Parliament

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, addressed members of the Icelandic Parliament (Althingi), the President of Iceland and the Government of Iceland in a live video address at a special session of Althingi on Friday 6 May. He was the first ever foreign head of state to address the Parliament of Iceland.

Here is an English transcript of Zelensky‘s address.

Following his address, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir delivered a speech reaffirming Iceland's steadfast support for Ukraine. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, and Birgir Ármannsson, Speaker of the Althingi, also gave short addresses at the beginning of the meeting.

“Your words challenge us to resist manufactured war narratives and to offer unreserved solidarity with Ukraine. I can assure you that the Icelandic government is prepared to do everything in its power to help the Ukrainian people during this time of exceptional need. We are resolutely part of the broad international alliance supporting Ukraine. As a non-armed country, Iceland’s support has been civilian in nature. We have primarily provided humanitarian and economic assistance and pledged to do more,” said Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir in her speech. 

Iceland stands in full solidarity with Ukraine and will continue to align itself completely with EU sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the invasion, provide humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine, and offer asylum to those seeking refuge from the conflict.

The special session of the Althingi can be watched here: