Cole-Hamilton: Will the Scottish Government provide further military aid to Ukraine?

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today written to the Deputy First Minister to ask whether the Scottish Government has allocated all of its funding to provide military aid to Ukraine, and whether it has any plans to provide further funding to help their armed forces fight Russian aggression.

Mr Cole-Hamilton recently returned from driving to Lviv to deliver a consignment of medical aid for immediate use on the front lines. Alongside several other parliamentarians and the charity Mighty Convoy, he met with Ukrainian politicians and soldiers and visited a drone factory.

In June 2022, the Scottish Government announced that it would provide £65 million for military aid to Ukraine. This contribution was part of the £1 billion funding from the UK Government, which was used to help Ukraine finance air defence systems and vital medical kit for soldiers.

Mr Cole-Hamilton has now written to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to ask whether all of this £65 million has been allocated and whether the Scottish Government has any plans to provide further funding for military aid to Ukraine.

His letter is as follows:

Dear Kate,

Earlier this month, I visited Ukraine alongside several other parliamentarians and colleagues to deliver medical equipment for immediate use on the front lines.

I was struck by the enormity of what the Ukrainian people are trying to achieve. Even amid President Trump’s alarming betrayal, they have shown unwavering resolve in the face of Russian aggression.

During my time in Lviv, I visited a drone factory and met with several Ukrainian military commanders and politicians who all emphasised the importance of drone capability in their war effort. Indeed, high manoeuvrable first-person view (FPV) drones and drones which can drop explosives on Russian positions are reported to be responsible for 60-70% of damage currently caused to Russian equipment. The commanders also spoke of the need for body armour, such as Kevlar, to keep soldiers alive.

In June 2022, you announced that the Scottish Government would provide £65 million of funding for military aid to Ukraine. You explained that this would help their armed forces finance equipment including air defence systems and vital medical kit for soldiers.

Can you therefore confirm what proportion of this funding has been allocated? Will you also clarify whether the Scottish Government has any plans to provide further funding for military aid to Ukraine?

If there is funding that is yet to be allocated, or if there are plans for more funding, will you ensure that this can be spent on drone production and body armour?

This conflict will come to define our century; the security of the UK and Europe begins in Ukraine. As it approaches a critical juncture, I believe it is incumbent on both our governments to help the people of Ukraine, bolster their defences and deter Russian aggression.

Yours faithfully,

Alex

Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and MSP for Edinburgh Western