Chamber and committees

I hear the concerns that Murdo Fraser has raised. I will look very closely and as sympathetically as I can at the correspondence.

After he intervened earlier, Kevin Stewart made a very moving speech—his last of the parliamentary session. With your indulgence, Deputy Presiding Officer, I will pay tribute to him. He has been a remarkable public servant for 27 years. He has served as a member of the Scottish Parliament representing the city of Aberdeen and as a Government minister in a number of portfolios, during which time he discharged his duties with tremendous engagement and professionalism—and we must not forget his local government background in Aberdeen. I have known him for a long time, and he has been a remarkable servant to the Scottish National Party and the cause of independence. I pay tribute to him, but I know that he will not leave the political stage, even though he might be leaving the Parliament.

Stephen Kerr reminded us of a really important point: Ukrainians are not fighting only for Ukraine; they are fighting for us all in Europe. We need to stand by them. He reminded us of the targeting of Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure. Those are acts of terrorism by the Russians, and they need to be described as such. He said that there should be no slackening of our commitments and that we should encourage the United Kingdom and other countries to provide everything that Ukraine requires to defend itself and to liberate the occupied territories.

Jamie Hepburn recounted the cost of the conflict and the solidarity that exists in Scotland. He also underlined the importance of our collective defence.

Colin Beattie spoke of his concerns, which I share, about the lifting of sanctions against Russia and the diversion of attention and armaments to the middle east.

Paul Sweeney recounted his experience of volunteering and of visiting Ukraine, and he spoke about the necessity of resilience there and here, which is an important lesson for us. I join him in paying tribute to Scottish volunteering efforts and volunteers.

Willie Coffey highlighted that Scotland has recently supplied fishing nets to Ukraine to counter the use of drones. He said that we need to back Ukraine to the hilt and that there must be a just end to the conflict.

As we heard, it is now more than four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The human cost remains shocking, but the past few months have at least seen Ukraine strengthen its position on the front line. We pay tribute to the men and women of the Ukrainian armed forces, who are paying for it in blood and treasure, and we welcome the increasing possibility of Ukraine retaking territories in the south. Increased access to military technology, including Ukrainian-manufactured drones, has enabled the Ukrainian army to make those gains, while minimising its own troop losses.

However, events in the middle east are clearly having unintended impacts on the conflict in Ukraine. Increased global oil prices are bringing an additional $150 million a day into Kremlin coffers, and there has been some easing of economic sanctions on Russia. Today, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is reminding EU leaders in Brussels that continuing to support Ukraine, including by releasing the €90 billion of EU loans that are currently held up and doing whatever it takes to defeat Putin, is in Europe’s best interests.

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.

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.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I could not connect. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am still having trouble connecting to the system. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My apologies, but I could not connect. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I could not connect. I would have voted yes.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I could not connect. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

—for the national performing companies and culture, to actually vote for them in the future.