UKRAINE’s President could visit the Scottish Parliament after the First Minister said he would support a visit from the leader of the war-torn country.
John Swinney backed calls from Scottish Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw for Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be invited to visit Holyrood as part of a “national day of solidarity” with the people of the Ukraine.
First Minister John Swinney updated Holyrood on his position on Ukraine in a statement on Tuesday[/caption]
Jackson Carlaw asked Mr Swinney whether he backed a visit from President Zelenskyy[/caption]
Asked whether he would welcome the Ukrainian leader to the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said: “For my part and the government we would happily support such an endeavour.”
Such an invitation is in the hands of the Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone. Holyrood was contacted for comment.
The support for an invite came as the First Minister doubled down on his opposition to a potential state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump – labelling it “unthinkable”.
The First Minister branded the events in the Oval Office last week where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was berated by the Mr Trump and Vice President JD Vance as “disturbing”.
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And the Nats chief said recent moves to stop military aid to Ukraine by the US “can only run the risk of emboldening Russia”.
Mr Swinney said: “If this were to remain the posture of the US government, a second state visit for US President Trump becomes unthinkable.”
However, the First Minister said it would be a “possibility” for a state visit to go ahead if it could “help solidify US support for Ukraine”.
The SNP leader has no say in whether there is a state visit, but could meet Mr Trump if he visits Scotland during his time in the UK.
However, despite backing the Prime Minister and the UK Government’s approach to the Ukraine crisis, Mr Swinney faced criticism for his Westminster chief Stephen Flynn’s comments over the weekend where he branded Sir Keir Starmer “weak” around the issue.
The Prime Minister on Monday branded Mr Flynn a “keyboard warrior” for his post which said “Starmer had better get back up off his knees and revoke that offer of a state visit.”
And Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said yesterday (TUES): “Grandstanding comments such as those from some senior SNP politicians are self-indulgent and counter-productive.
“They risk sowing division between Western allies to the delight of the Kremlin and other despotic and dangerous regimes.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also blasted Mr Flynn’s comments and called on politicians to show “serious, grown-up leadership”.
He said: “The events of the last week are a defining moment for peace and security in Europe.
“It requires serious grown-up leadership, not Twitter diplomacy. Politicians should not resort to childish attacks on social media for perceived party interest, but instead prioritise peace and the national interest.”
Distancing himself from Mr Flynn, the First Minister said: “I have set out very measured remarks about the importance of ensuring that when we are trying to build those alliances, we all have to know where we stand.
“The United Kingdom expressing the desire to extend a state visit welcome to President Trump seems to me to be the type of commitment that should be given to an ally on which we are working in consort with.”
The King met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday[/caption]
But the First Minister was blasted for his continued opposition to nuclear weapons – including longstanding demands to rid the Clyde of the Trident nuclear submarines.
Mr Findlay said the position was “dangerously and naively wrong.”
He added: “Ukraine bitterly regrets forfeiting its own nuclear deterrent.
Does John Swinney recognise that in these serious times, the SNP’s stance on nuclear weapons is not a serious policy?”
But the First Minister defended his stance and called for more conventional weaponry instead of nuclear bombs and missiles.
He said: “I have made no secret of the fact that my entire life I have not supported the possession of nuclear weapons.
“I would simply observe to Russell Finlay today that with all the possession of nuclear weapons today, Ukraine has been invaded and that is the reality of what we are facing.
“Nuclear weapons have not deterred Russia from invading Ukraine.”
