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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2025

05 Mar 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Ukraine

Yes—I certainly share that view.

Europe fears a Russia that has suffered 860,000 casualties in three years of fighting a Ukraine that has long been denied fighter aircraft, high-end missiles and the armour that is needed to liberate its conquered territory. Europe, which is more technologically advanced, spends $338 billion a year on defence, but it must invest more.

Moscow is only 523 miles from the Ukrainian border. It is as likely to use nuclear weapons as Britain was when Argentina invaded the Falklands, or Israel when it was attacked last year by Iran. Fear of escalation was the previous US President’s excuse for keeping Ukraine drip-fed with equipment for three years, supplying only enough weaponry to stop it losing, rather than enough to enable it to defeat and expel the aggressor.

Europe must speak with one voice and refuse to be intimidated by gun-to-the-head threats. The sight of some European leaders mimicking the sycophantic behaviour of the US President’s inner circle is truly nauseating. The White House, in its boorish arrogance, has seemingly tried to alienate, upset and destabilise as many allies as possible.

The usual threats and bluster include Canada becoming America’s 51st state and the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs. King Charles is Canada’s head of state, yet we saw the Prime Minister confer a state visit on a US President who threatens and bullies his subjects. Actions must have consequences—the royal invitation must be withdrawn. One-sided respect is demanded by Washington, but respect must be earned. Sadly, America is led by a petulant, vituperative narcissist who demands fealty masquerading as respect—an affront to the dignity of his office.

California Senator Adam Schiff summed it up last Friday when he said:

“A hero and a coward are meeting in the Oval Office today. And when the meeting is over the hero will return to Ukraine.”

The Vice-President was described by Alastair Campbell as a “vile human being”.

America’s leadership wants to milk Ukraine dry of its resources while refusing to provide any form of security guarantee and kowtowing to Moscow. Ukraine has shed too much blood, its land ravaged, to suffer such a fate. We must back Ukraine with weapons and money—taken from frozen Russian assets, if necessary—until a just peace is secured.

Slava Ukraini!

17:24  

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16524, in the name of Colin Beattie, on three years of solidarity with Ukraine. The de...
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) SNP
I thank everyone who supported this members’ business motion, which gives the Parliament an opportunity to reaffirm our solidarity with Ukraine during these ...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP
I congratulate my colleague Colin Beattie on securing this timely debate. America’s blunderbuss, broken-bottle-in-the-face approach to diplomacy has shocked...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green
Does Mr Gibson share my disgust that much of Russia’s fossil-fuel export economy is being propped up by companies such as Seapeak Maritime Ltd, which is base...
Kenneth Gibson SNP
Yes—I certainly share that view. Europe fears a Russia that has suffered 860,000 casualties in three years of fighting a Ukraine that has long been denied f...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con) Con
It is a pleasure to speak in the debate, and I am grateful to Colin Beattie for lodging the motion and for his speech. In addition, it is always a pleasure t...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab
I welcome the debate that Colin Beattie has brought to the chamber. These are troubling times. Three years ago, Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukrai...
Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green
We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. As in all conflicts, it is ordinary people who bear the brunt of brut...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD
Like other members, I start by acknowledging not just Colin Beattie’s contribution in bringing the debate to the chamber but his efforts over the past three ...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP
Last week, I attended the “Ukraine Forever!” concert at the Usher Hall—along with many of my colleagues, including Audrey Nicoll, who is sitting beside me—to...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con
I thank Colin Beattie for lodging the motion that we are debating this evening, which offers us a chance to speak of our three years of solidarity with Ukrai...
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
Before I call the next speaker, I advise members that, due to the number of members who wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without n...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP
I was concerned for a moment, as my friend and colleague Colin Beattie seemed to struggle to move that motion. I thought that it was because he knew that I w...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab
I am pleased to speak tonight and to lend my voice, in support and solidarity, to the defiant people of Ukraine. I thank Colin Beattie for securing the debat...
Stephen Kerr Con
Will Paul O’Kane join me in paying tribute to the King for the way in which he has handled his responsibilities in the past few days, and for the messaging t...
Paul O’Kane Lab
I associate myself with Stephen Kerr’s comments. Britain has an important role in the world in what is often termed “soft power”. His Majesty the King has ve...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind
I thank Colin Beattie for securing the debate and for chairing the cross-party group. I suspect that he did not foresee quite how events would unfold between...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP
I thank Colin Beattie for bringing the debate to the chamber. As the deputy leader of my party, I am proud that more than 40 of his colleagues have joined hi...
Edward Mountain Con
Does the member agree that, when the war is won and Russia is kicked out of Ukraine, repatriations from Russia will be the only sensible way of resolving the...
Keith Brown SNP
I agree with the spirit of what Edward Mountain says. Liam McArthur made a point about the need to distinguish between Putin and the Russian people. We have ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
I call cabinet secretary Angus Robertson to respond to the debate. 18:14
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson) SNP
I thank Colin Beattie for bringing the debate to the chamber and, as ever, for his long-standing and steadfast support for Ukraine. As other members have don...
Neil Bibby Lab
I absolutely welcome what the cabinet secretary has said about the cross-party support for Ukraine that we are hearing here this evening. We need to maintain...
Angus Robertson SNP
Absolutely. That is really important. I agree with Neil Bibby. I want to reflect on a number of things that members raised. We cannot countenance the warnin...
Stephen Kerr Con
I know that the cabinet secretary was a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee at Westminster for a number of years. Will he reflect on the pervas...
Angus Robertson SNP
We most certainly should be aware of that danger, and we should counter it. We should make sure that we can rely on reliable news sources. However, it should...