John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, announced his willingness to send Scottish troops to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping missions if a peace agreement is established. He shared this information in a podcast on BBC.
The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) indicated that Scottish forces could be deployed in Ukraine if a «acceptable resolution» is found for the people of Ukraine, which includes their participation in maintaining peace.
«If a peace agreement that aligns with the interests of the Ukrainian people is reached, and it involves troop deployment, I will support it,» Swinney emphasized.
He also pointed out the necessity of defending Ukraine's independence against Russian aggression.
However, Swinney expressed concerns about potential threats to long-lasting peace in Western Europe. He believes that the stability achieved by many generations since World War II is now fragile.
The First Minister noted that the era of peace ended with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which brought the threat of conflict much closer to home.
«We began to feel the effects of this conflict in our communities just days after the invasion. I fear that the precious legacy of peace our generation received is now at risk for future generations,» he added.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the decision to send British troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire must be put to a vote in the House of Commons.