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Ukrainian MP thanks Scotland for supporting her country

Ukraine is “very lucky” to have friends across Scotland, delegates at the SNP annual party conference have been told.

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko addressed delegates in Aberdeen on Saturday, where she thanked the people of Scotland for providing humanitarian aid and taking in refugees from her country during the Russian invasion.

Ms Vasylenko said: “It’s a great honor to be here on the stage, addressing your 88th conference of the Scottish National Party.

“It’s an even bigger honor for me to be representing the people of Ukraine up on this stage. It’s just that I wish I was addressing you today as Lesia Vasylenko, member of parliament of Ukraine, chair of the environmental sub-committee on climate change , talking about Ukraine’s input and impact in dealing with global challenges.

“Instead, I am addressing you today as Lesia Vasylenko, member of a wartime parliament of Ukraine that is fighting very hard for its existence and for the physical survival of its people.

“That is first and foremost, but of course we are also fighting to defend the very meaning of the concepts of freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Ms Vasylenko said that being a member of parliament in wartime is “hard, it’s frustrating, it’s emotional, it’s a rollercoaster”.

“Every day, it’s a rollercoaster and it’s so much more than that.

“Most importantly, it’s exactly like being Ukrainian these days. Waking up every day since that dreadful day on February 24, making sure you and the people in your home are OK, are still alive.

“And then doing one thing, at least one little thing, to make sure that Ukrainians – a 44-million nation – is also alive for that one more day.”

She said her country “admires the courage” of Scots who have signed up to the Ukrainian International Territorial Defense Battalion.