Nicola Sturgeon has renewed her call for the UK to do more for those “fleeing the horror” of Ukraine.
The First Minister said relatives of Ukrainians trying to get to the UK were meeting “a wall of bureaucracy” .
Speaking as she visited Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Club, the SNP leader also called on the west to “do the maximum” to equip Ukraine militarily.
The comments came as the UK confirmed only 760 visas have been granted for Ukrainians to come to the UK out of over 22,000 applications so far.
Sturgeon said: “Everybody is horrified by what is happening to Ukraine right now and we want to do everything we can to assist.”
“In addition, of course, to the international pressure on Putin through sanctions we need to make sure we are opening our doors to those fleeing the horror in Ukraine."
"On that front, I’ve been pretty blunt in my view that the UK Government is not doing nearly enough.
"I’ve heard stories today members of own Ukrainian community seeking to get family members here and being met with a wall of bureaucracy that should not be happening.”
She added: “I would repeat my appeal to the Prime Minister directly to the to open not just the hearts of the UK to those needing sanctuary, but to open the doors of the UK to allow people to come to the UK and then deal with the paperwork afterwards.”
"That’s what Ireland is doing, that’s what countries across the European Union is doing and it’s what the UK urgently needs to do now.”
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