The first Ukrainian refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin's bloody war of aggression could arrive in Scotland as soon as this weekend, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The First Minister told MSPs today that Westminster had agreed "in principle" for the Scottish Government to become a super sponsor for those seeking refuge in a bid to speed up the process.
The SNP leader said final operational details still needed to be ironed out with the Home Office - which has sole power to issue visas to people arriving in the UK - before refugees could arrive.
Sturgeon said: "Our aim is that our super sponsor route will run in parallel with the first phase of the wider UK scheme.
"That should make it possible - and that is certainly our hope - for the first 3,000 displaced Ukrainians to arrive in Scotland from as early as this weekend."
She added: "There is no good reason in my view for this agreement not to be reached.
"We hope and expect that it will be and this is the basis on which we are now planning."
The super sponsor proposal would see Ukrainians arriving in Scotland offered temporary accommodation immediately.
The Scottish Government would then work with councils and charities to provide longer-term places to stay - including Scots who have offered their own homes.
But Sturgeon said other longer term options would also be required.
She told MSPs: "However welcome and necessary the voluntary offers of accommodation are, we must be mindful that those fleeing the war may need to be here for a long time.
"They will wish to return to Ukraine as soon as possible and for Scotland to be just a temporary home.
"But unfortunately, they may need to be here for longer than we can reasonably expect members of the public to provide accommodation.
"So as well as fully harnessing the good will of people across Scotland, we also need to plan for long-term sustainable accommodation and appropriate public service provision."
Members of the public will be offered £350 a month to open their homes to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The UK Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme calls on people to offer a spare room or an empty property to a refugee for a period of at least six months.
Scotland has made an immediate commitment to support 3,000 refugees in the initial wave, in line with the numbers that were resettled under the Syrian scheme.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "We should be justifiably proud of the colossal response that we have seen, not just from people in Scotland, but across Great Britain, opening their homes to Ukrainians fleeing conflict.
"These refugees will have been through the very worst in human suffering. Access to trauma recovery, long term counselling and immediate vaccination against Covid should they wish it, will all be vital."
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