The Speaker visits Ukraine on the third anniversary of the Bucha massacre

At the invitation of Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), the Speaker of the UK House of Commons has participated in the 2025 Bucha Summit. The summit, held to mark the third anniversary of one of the gravest atrocities to date of the war in Ukraine, was an important opportunity to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to unite in a force of allyship against Russian aggression.

The Speaker will make a full statement about his visit to Ukraine and his participation in the 2025 Bucha Summit on his return.

**UPDATE 2 APRIL 2025**

On returning from the Speaker’s visit to Ukraine, the Speaker made a statement in the Chamber before Prime Minister’s Questions.

During the Speaker’s visit to Ukraine, the Speaker joined his counterparts from across Europe in Bucha, marking the third anniversary of the Bucha massacre. The Speaker attended a memorial service in the presence of President Zelenskyy, First Lady of Ukraine - Olena Zelenska, Chairman Stefanchuk and friends and families of those lost in terrible atrocity. Attendees of the memorial heard important and moving testimony from a survivor of the Bucha massacre.

The Speaker also delivered a speech at the Bucha Summit, opened by President Zelenskyy and chaired by Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada - Ukrainian Parliament.

The Speaker delivered specific cross-party messages of solidarity from the House of Commons, the Prime Minster, the Leader of Opposition, and the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

President Zelenskyy chaired an evening round table meeting with the Speakers from across Europe where he expressed his thanks to the House and to all the constituents for their support provided to the Ukrainian people.

Ukraine and House of Commons: 2020 - Present

In October 2020, President Zelenskyy attended Speaker’s House, as the first international visitor of Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s speakership.

President Zelenskyy has since addressed Parliament on two occasions. In March 2022, Zelenskyy became the first and only Head of State to address the House of Commons in a remote hybrid format, addressing the House via video link. A little under a year later, Zelenskyy visited UK Parliament and followed in the footsteps of historic heads of state, including Nelson Mandela and HM Queen Elizabeth II, to address Parliament on the steps of Westminster Hall. He presented the gift to the Speaker - a training fighter pilot helmet which is now on display in Speaker’s House.

In November 2022, the First Lady of Ukraine - Olena Zelenska visited Parliament and made a committee room address in the presence of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Speaker, MPs and special guests. The First Lady, accompanied by the Ukrainian Ambassador also attended an exhibition in Portcullis House, that showed the devastating impact of the war on Ukrainian people.

The Speaker has held several bilateral meetings with Mr. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada over recent years. The Speaker has been an ever-strong voice advocating for Ukraine at international conferences such as the G7 Speakers’ Summit, G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) and the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament.

The Speaker has also welcomed bilateral meetings with the Ukrainian Ambassadors, the Ukraine’s Defence Minister and women MPs of the Ukrainian Parliament in Speaker’s House.

The Speaker has supported multiple exhibitions and events in support of Ukraine and its people, including a UK vs Ukraine Solidarity Chess Match, HOME – a Ukrainian photography exhibition and welcomed the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to Parliament.