Falkirk stands ready to support the people of Ukraine, councillors have agreed as they called for an immediate lifting of visa requirements to enable refugees to enter the UK.
Councillors also commended the efforts of communities across Falkirk District who have already begun to collect donations of essential items to send to those who have been affected by the conflict.
An emergency motion was proposed today by Council leader Cecil Meiklejohn with the support of all parties showing solidarity with Ukraine.
It stated: “We condemn the actions taken by Vladimir Putin and his government, in the unprovoked act of war unleashed on the sovereign nation of Ukraine, giving rise to dark days ahead for the people of Ukraine, but also perilous times for Europe and the rest of the world.
“We in Falkirk stand together and send a clear message to the people of Ukraine, including those who have already made Scotland or elsewhere in the UK, their home.
“It is imperative that the international community stands united in solidarity with continued decisive sanctions imposed on Putin’s destructive regime, to discourage further aggressive actions, and to clearly demonstrate that the course of action they have chosen will bring with it significant negative consequences.
“All parties must also continue to press for a diplomatic solution that brings this invasion to an end as quickly, and with as little suffering, as possible.
“We further call for the UK Government to urgently implement measures to allow any Ukrainian refugee who wishes to come to the UK to seek sanctuary, the right to do so.
“There should be an immediate lifting of visa requirements to enable refugees to enter the UK mirroring the approach other countries are taking.
“Falkirk stands ready to support this, as we do for all refugees fleeing, war, persecution and terror, across the globe.”
During the short debate, SNP Councillor Lorna Binnie also spoke movingly of how she is the daughter of a Polish refugee who came to Scotland after the Second World War and made a home here.
She said: “He suffered many hardships like the Ukrainian people today who are being displaced and enduring all these hardships once again.
“Many lives as we know are being lost all for control by Vladimir Putin and his autocratic government.
“It’s important to say that it’s not the ordinary people of Russia who are inflicting this terrible war and causing all this unnecessary death and suffering.”
“My heart goes out to the brave, resilient people of Ukraine and I thank my father’s country for taking many of the displaced people.”
