It is now more than 1,000 days since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine—1,000 days of courageous resistance and sacrifice by the Ukrainian people. How has the Scottish Government supported Ukrainians, and what assurance can the First Minister give that Scotland will continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine for as long as it takes?

I thank Colin Beattie for raising the issue and reminding the Parliament that it is now more than 1,000 days since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. There is absolutely no justification for the invasion, and the Russian aggression must be repelled.

Scotland has stood in solidarity with Ukraine. We have provided sanctuary to more than 28,000 people who were sponsored by the Scottish Government or an individual in Scotland to come to this country. More than 21,000 of those arrivals are part of the Scottish Government’s support scheme. We have invested heavily in providing the support that is available to Ukrainian refugees to come here, and I make it clear that those Ukrainian refugees are welcome in Scotland and play an important part in our country.

I reiterate the unacceptability of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the determination to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian population and the need to repel the Russian aggression. That is a necessity in our modern world today.