THE chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain visited the First Minister on Wednesday as she displayed her solidarity with Ukraine. 

Linda Allison was invited to Bute House along with the Ukrainian Consul as Nicola Sturgeon offered her support amid escalating Russian aggression.  

Allison said that her visit with the First Minister would hold huge significance for Ukrainians in Britain and Ukraine. 

Allison said: “We are just so grateful for the support of the First Minister, it doesn’t just mean a lot to us.

"You would be surprised how much it means to the people living in Ukraine, that a country like Scotland is recognising them as an internationally free state; that they’re getting support from governments who are willing to stand up and say ‘stop this aggression’.  

"I can hardly put into words how moved we were by it.” 

READ MORE: What are the UK Conservative Party's links to Russian money and who are the donors?

Allison went on to describe Sturgeon’s support for her association, which is raising money for Ukrainian-based charities to supply useful items like medical kits and blankets.  

She said: “We talked about humanitarian aid and if there was any way we can promote that. People in Scotland are very generous, and they might want to help with our efforts.” 

The First Minister tweeted about the meeting and further assured the Ukrainian people of the Scottish Government’s solidarity with them.  

READ MORE: Ukrainian politician Lesia Vasylenko thanks Scotland but criticises UK over sanctions

Sturgeon wrote: “I welcomed the Consul General of Ukraine to Bute House this morning to express ⁦@scotgov⁩ support and solidarity as his country defends its sovereignty & independence from Russian aggression.  

The CG was joined by Linda Allison, Chair of the Ukrainian community in [Scotland]"

Allison also voiced her disappointment with the sanctions outlined by Boris Johnson on Tuesday, describing them as “not anywhere near enough” as she urged the UK Government to provide further military aid.  

She said: “We would like to see the UK offer more military aid as and when it needs it and to make sure that Nato is going to help the surrounding areas of Ukraine be prepared to take refugees should they need to.” 

Ukraine confirmed on Wednesday that it was declaring a national state of emergency and called on its citizens to immediately leave Russia as fears of all-out war grow. As the situation escalates, attention will turn to the impact on Ukrainian civilians and potential casualties.  

READ MORE: David Pratt: Russia and Ukraine crisis set to return to where it began

Offering insight into how Ukrainians were coping with the crisis, Allison said: “They’re very, very worried. They are stockpiling food and trying to get as close as possible to the Polish and Hungarian borders. However, the Ukrainian people are resilient and proud. They will be defending their country in the utmost and in any way that they can.” 

Russia has a long history of challenging Ukrainian sovereignty, most recently with the 2014 Crimean crisis and, before that, Ukraine’s incorporation into the USSR. Further challenges lie ahead as Putin recently described Eastern Ukraine as “ancient Russian lands”. 

With hopes of a peaceful resolution continuing to wane, Ukraine will look to its western allies to show a united front.  

Allison said: “Past sanctions have not worked. We’ve been letting Putin away with far too much. But if all the western countries stand firm together and agree on very tough sanctions then hopefully that will deter Putin’s ambitions.”