Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine could be “the most dangerous and most defining” moment for Europe since the Second World War, reports iNews quoting Nicola Sturgeon.
Calling for “severest” sanctions
The First Minister said future generations would judge the actions taken by the UK and the rest of the world in the coming weeks and months, calling for the “severest” sanctions to be imposed on Russia.
The SNP leader said Vladimir Putin must now “feel the wrath of the democratic world” after he mounted a “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning. She said this should include sanctions on him and his “network of oligarch and agents”, their expulsion from countries across the world, and action against Russian banks.
Ms Sturgeon also called for sanctions on Russian energy firms and the “immediate clean-up of the swirl of dirty Russian money in the city of London”. She was speaking during an unscheduled statement at Holyrood immediately before First Minister’s Questions, with Scotland’s other political leaders echoing her sentiments.
“At its most fundamental this is a clash between oppression and autocracy on the one hand, and freedom and democracy on the other,” she told MSPs. “We must all ensure that freedom and democracy prevail.”
Fragile peace in Europe
Ms Sturgeon said the Russian military action meant that Ukraine’s “very existence as an independent democracy was now under attack”.
She added: “Just as Putin must face and feel the wrath of the democratic world, the people of Ukraine must feel and not just hear our support and our solidarity.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said “the world we woke up to this morning is a far darker and more unstable place”. He added: “I always thought and hoped that war on this scale in Europe was something I would only know of through history lessons at school. But sadly after this morning it is part of our daily lives once again.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the “hard-won and fragile peace in Europe” had been “shattered” by the Russian invasion.
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said the action against Ukraine was a “flagrant and grievous breach of international law”. He said “no form of sanction must be off the table” and Scotland must “stand ready to play our part” in helping refugees fleeing the conflict.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: “For the first time this century, a land war has begun in continental Europe. We have no idea how this will end.”
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe
Source: iNews
