Live updates as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to address UK Parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to address MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon in what will be an historic event. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle approved the request for the embattled President to make the speech as his country fights Russia's invasion.

The address is due to take place at 5pm via video link. Mr Zelensky gave an address to the European parliament last week and imparted a virtual message to the US Senate on Saturday. Today, he is expected to renew messages from those speeches to MPs, including pushing for the West to install a no-fly zone over Ukraine and for more arms to be delivered.

The West has so far resisted those please, saying that it would mean shooting down Russian aircraft in what would be seen as a clear escalation of the conflict.

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK will be as generous as possible to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion as criticism continued over the slow pace of processing visa applications.

Amid signs of frustration in Whitehall, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace offered military support to the Home Office to help deal with the backlog of people trying to get into the UK.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced that a new visa processing centre is being set up in Lille in northern France following reports that refugees arriving in Calais were being told they must go to Paris or Brussels to apply.

The Prime Minister briefed the weekly meeting of the Cabinet on the latest situation in Ukraine earlier today ahead of Mr Zelensky's address.