Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2025
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 years or so, through the cross-party group on Ukraine, in coalescing unwavering cross-party support for Ukraine. I thank him very much for that.
I welcome the consul general and our visitors in the public gallery. It would be remiss of me—I am sure that the consul general would agree—not to also pay tribute to the work of his predecessor, Andrii Kuslii, who formed very strong friendships with members across the Parliament and, in the most challenging of times, built the relationships on which that solidarity is now founded.
Colin Beattie almost certainly lodged the motion ahead of recent events, which I think all of us have found so depressing and have made us feel despondent. Those events have, undoubtedly, upended many of the certainties to which we were—perhaps naively—still clinging, but which now feel further away than ever. The global alliances on which we have come to rely in the post-war era now appear to be in peril like never before.
I think back to Putin’s illegal invasion three years ago. It is important to draw a distinction between Vladimir Putin and the Russian people—it was Putin’s illegal invasion, built on his imperial ambitions. He was denied the lightning victory that he expected, and I think that he was not alone in having his predictions of what would happen confounded. Stephen Kerr was absolutely right to talk about the inspirational Ukrainian response to that attack—the inspiration of the Ukrainian people, of the Ukrainian military and, in particular, of President Zelenskyy, who has shown such dignity throughout, especially in more recent times.
Stephen Kerr and all other contributors to the debate have pointed to the need for continued military, economic and diplomatic support. That support will be manifested in many different ways. The issue of the assets that have been frozen for some time—to which Kenneth Gibson and others referred—now needs to be addressed in a different way, and with more urgency than there has been to date. As I understand it, there is about £25 billion-worth of frozen assets in the UK, and action needs to be taken to release those funds to support the on-going efforts to support Ukraine. More widely, Europe has similar funds, which now need to be deployed to support the Ukrainian people.
Lorna Slater was right to talk about the way in which the transatlantic alliance has now shifted. That has only underscored what a lot of us have, for some time, been suggesting is necessary: Europe needs to step up and play a more prominent role. That will include the increased defence spending that the Prime Minister announced, which I very much welcome. However, as other members have suggested, that is almost certainly just the first step in a trend that needs to continue into the future.
I point to something else that has featured in contributions from colleagues: the position of Ukrainians who now find themselves in this country. The way in which Scots have opened their homes and their hearts to Ukrainians who have come to this country is right and very welcome. Ukrainians have made significant contributions to communities around the country, such as the one that I represent in Orkney, and to our country as a whole. However, that does not mask the tragic circumstances that led them to be here in the first place, and I think that it will be true that very many, or most, of them will wish to return home as soon as possible. Nevertheless, for as long as they are here, they are most welcome, and we need to continue to acknowledge the value of the contributions that they make to our country.
These are dark days. We need to redouble our commitment to, and our solidarity for, a just and lasting peace. Like others, I stand united, as do the Scottish Liberal Democrats, with the people of Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini!
17:41