Nicola Sturgeon: Nato must not rule out Ukraine no-fly zone
Douglas Ross calls on the SNP to rethink Trident policy
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Nato must not rule out a no-fly zone over Ukraine despite concerns about an escalation of the conflict.
The SNP leader says the west must "keep its mind open to every way in which Ukraine can be helped" and argued that nuclear weapons are deterring "proper and direct" help for the country.
But former First Minister Alex Salmond called on Sturgeon to "reflect", saying a no-fly zone would lead to "escalation" and "Armageddon".
The Alba Party leader recently put his show on Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT on hiatus, saying it would not be back on air "until peace is re-established".
Sturgeon visited the Edinburgh Ukrainian Club earlier today and told ITV's Representing Border programme she shares that concern about the potential for "direct military confrontation" between the nuclear powers of Russia and the west.
She said: "I understand and share the concerns about a direct military confrontation between Russia and Nato, that a no-fly zone may lead to,.
"Nobody wants to see an escalation of that nature. But on the other hand, Putin is not acting in any way rationally or defensively.
"We have a situation right now where perhaps the only thing nuclear weapons are derailing is the ability to properly and directly help Ukraine.
"All of these things must be considered on a daily basis right now. The world cannot stand by and watch Ukraine's independence and sovereignty be extinguished. That would be morally wrong from Ukraine's perspective, but the implications of that for the rest of us in terms of the values we hold dear would be severe too."
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross called on the Scottish Government and the SNP to rethink their long-standing opposition to Trident in light of current events. He told LBC that Ukraine had "removed their nuclear weapons several years ago on the assurance that that would not then make them a target, and it has".
He went on: "It is clear that it is a deterrent."
The comments came as authorities in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol claimed that the children's hospital there had been destroyed by Russian air raids.
In an online statement, the city council said: "The Russian occupying forces have dropped several bombs on the children's hospital. The destruction is colossal."
Russia has previously denied targeting civilians.
Dymytro Gurin, a Ukrainian MP, shared footage of a badly damaged building on Twitter, with parked cars, destroyed cars and blasted trees outside. He said: "Russian artillery ruined maternity hospital and children hospital. A lot of killed and wounded women. No information about children and newborn yet. Hey, @UN how are you doing?"
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