Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the campaign for Scottish independence is "not about turning away" from the UK or the rest of the world.
The First Minister used an appearance at a literary event in Wales to make the claim that independence was an "internationalist project".
The SNP leader was speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys on Friday evening to share her thoughts on being a woman in politics and what a post-Brexit, post-Covid, world will look like.
Sturgeon had earlier travelled to London that day to attend a service at St Paul's Cathedral in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
It comes as her government faces questions over why it has earmarked £20 million for IndyRef2 planning at a time when the public sector in Scotland could see large-scale job cuts.
BBC journalist Katya Adler, who hosted the interview, asked Sturgeon: "We’ve got war back on the continent here, is this not a time to stick together if you believe in principles … is this a time to fracture and splinter?"
The First Minister responded: "That is not what independence is.
"It is not about separating ourselves. It's not about turning away from the rest of the UK, Europe, or the world.
"It's about self-government. It's about the route to Scotland to play a bigger, more constructive part in the world, and in defending those values of liberal democracy that really need defended right now.
"Independence is an internationalist project. It's about looking outwards.
"The thing that has separated Scotland in recent years, that has turned Scotland inwards completely against our will, is Brexit.
"We have been taken out of the European Union."
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “The very definition of independence is separation – it would involve leaving the UK, turning inwards, and building barriers between friends and families.
"However much Nicola Sturgeon might try to convince herself that her version of nationalism is superior to other nationalisms, her negative campaign is all about dividing people and communities.
"When we face so many collective challenges, Scotland’s future is brighter if we remain united and bring people together.”
Tory MSP Craig Hoy said: "Nicola Sturgeon is not fooling anyone with her latest comments.
"Scottish independence is by definition a separatist movement. And far from the internationalist, civic nationalism that the SNP claims to embody, their campaign for independence is based on constant grievance-mongering with the rest of the UK.
"Despite what the SNP likes to claim, Scotland is far stronger by being part of the United Kingdom.
"With the war in Ukraine highlighting the importance of stability and international solidarity, Nicola Sturgeon’s determination to break up the UK is selfish, reckless and dangerous."
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