Hansard

The simple answer is yes, and we should be getting on with it. I appeal to the European Union in particular to look at that matter closely. I also take the opportunity to appeal to Hungary and Slovakia to not stand in the way of supporting Ukraine. I am meeting the Slovakian ambassador immediately after this debate, which is why I gave a short answer, and I will make that point to him directly.

Ukraine is a key part of the European family. Western unity cannot fracture, and we must continue to stand in international solidarity and steadfast support of Ukraine. As Ukraine works to consolidate recent gains and secure further political and financial backing, the Scottish Government continues to respond to urgent Ukrainian requests for support by working closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross. We have helped to ensure that medical equipment, including beds, mattresses and oxygen concentrators, are donated to hospitals and health structures in need. That includes support for burns centres, most of which are in close proximity to front lines, including Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, to support the most vulnerable.

We have joined the likes of Denmark, Sweden and France in supporting Ukraine’s defence against Russia by arranging for aquaculture nets at the end of their working life to be sent from Scotland to help the nation to defend itself against deadly Russian drone attacks. Vital infrastructure in strategic locations in eastern Ukraine will be protected by draping the nets overhead to catch exploding drones.

Following the continued escalation of missile and drone attacks that deliberately target critical energy infrastructure, the Scottish Government is also looking at how we can support the Ukrainian Government’s most recent request for energy equipment to help communities across Ukraine to regain access to reliable heating and power during this critical period. This week, with the kind support of the Energy Industries Council, the First Minister wrote to energy businesses across Scotland, setting out what is needed and seeking to identify any available equipment.

As we reflect on the urgent need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, it is important that we also recognise the extraordinary humanitarian effort that has taken place in Scotland. Since the war began, more than 29,000 Ukrainian people have arrived in the UK, under sponsorship from either an individual in Scotland or the Scottish Government, and more than 21,000 of those arrivals have come through Scotland’s supersponsor scheme.

I place on record my deep gratitude to local authorities, third sector partners, schools, volunteers and the many Scots who opened and continue to open their homes to offer safety and stability. Through that partnership, Scotland has been able to provide a safe and warm home for those displaced by the horrors of war. Many Ukrainians have already begun to rebuild their lives here, contributing to our communities as valued friends, neighbours and colleagues. Their courage in the face of profound uncertainty continues to inspire us.

As we look forward to a future of peace, it is vital that we restate our unwavering support for all who have found safety here. Scotland will stand beside you for as long as you need us. Our country remains a place of refuge and, if you choose, a place to call home. Slava Ukraini. Heroyam slava.