Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
I thank colleagues for their thoughtful contributions to this debate. The Scottish Parliament speaks with one voice in solidarity with Ukraine. If one was watching proceedings, one would not be able to guess which party any of us represented. We are speaking with one voice.
Kenneth Gibson, to whom I pay tribute for bringing this debate to the chamber, reminded us of the Putin playbook in Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014. It is really important to remember that, because it is happening again. For anybody who is not aware of it, I draw their attention to what has been reported as happening this week in the so-called people’s republic of Narva in Estonia. They are doing it again—be warned. Kenneth Gibson reminded us of the lessons of history. Never forget appeasement. Never forget what was agreed with Nazi Germany in relation to the Sudetenland in 1938 and what followed from that.
Murdo Fraser paid tribute to Scottish volunteers and charities, and he was absolutely right to say that we need to do more. Yesterday, I had discussions with the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, the head of Caritas Ukraine, who has been in Scotland this week, and the head of Caritas Europe. We need to do more and to continue to do everything that we can.