Trump state visit 'unthinkable', Swinney tells MSPs

A second state visit for Donald Trump is "unthinkable" unless the US resumes military aid to Ukraine, First Minister John Swinney has said.

The US congress approved a £60bn aid package in spring last year. However, Trump is to suspend US support for Ukraine.

The decision follows unprecedented scenes in the Oval Office, where Trump and vice-president JD Vance challenged Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky over his level of gratitude for American backing.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelensky in London over the weekend and has announced a four-point plan to work with leaders in Kyiv in a bid to end the conflict with Russia.

Eighteen foreign leaders, mostly European, attended discussions and further crisis talks will be held by EU heads in Brussels this week.

On his visit to the White House last week, Starmer delivered an invitation from the King to Trump for a state visit, which could reportedly take place in Scotland.

Addressing the Scottish Parliament, Swinney said he was "disturbed" by the events of Zelensky's meeting with Trump and called for "unwavering unity across the political spectrum" on "who the aggressor is in this war".

The SNP leader said the tone of that meeting and the pause on US aid "can only run the risk of emboldening Russia, the aggressor". 

He went on: "If this were to remain the posture of the US government, a second state visit for the US President Donald Trump becomes unthinkable. 

"I know there are people in this chamber and across this country who will disagree, who will say that we should not contemplate this stance, or who will say that President Trump should not be invited under any circumstances. I understand and respect those points of view, but I cannot share them.

"Right now, today, as we stand here, men, women and children in Ukraine are putting their lives and their freedom on the line to defend their country and all of our democracies. We say we support them, and we do, but that means being willing to do things that are hard, things that we would rather not do. So if a state visit could help solidify US support for Ukraine, if that is part of what supporting Ukraine means in practice, then it is a possibility. For that to be true, however, the US would have to sustain the steadfast support of Ukraine, her independence and her territorial integrity."

Swinney backed the 100-year agreement signed between Starmer and Zelensky, offering long-term UK support to Ukraine, and said Scotland would "play our part" in its delivery.

He further reaffirmed support for the four-point plan and said Scotland "accepts the case for the deployment of any peacekeeping forces to avert future conflict, subject to scrutiny and a vote by MPs".

Stating a hope that "US and European leaders can once again find a way to speak with one voice" on the conflict, which has been raging for three years, he said: "There are no grey areas when one country chooses to send troops and tanks into the peaceful territory of another."

Swinney went on: "There can be no truly sincere or constructive peace talks about the future of Ukraine without Ukraine present at the negotiating table, and securing the future of Ukraine is utterly vital to securing the peace we have enjoyed in Europe for so long. 

"Europe's future, Ukraine's future and her fate, is our future and our fate. So we must aspire to be as courageous as the people of Ukraine and stand by them always in their hour of need, and we must maintain unity with our partners across Europe and the western world."