In an interview with ITV Border News, she said that she shared concerns about the risk of direct military confrontation, but that a no-fly zone should be considered “on a day-to-day basis”.

In an equally bizarre comment, she insisted that because Russia and Nato countries – such as the US, UK and France – possessed nuclear weapons, they were the only thing deterring “proper help” for Ukraine.

This incredibly stupid statement chose to ignore the fact that the sole purpose of Britain’s nuclear weapons was to deter attack by our enemies, principally Russia.

However, all those who worry that such a move could lead to World War Three can sleep easier in their beds – at least as far as Ms Sturgeon’s words go, given that she has neither the power nor the wherewithal to turn her thoughts into action. Thank goodness, did I hear you say?

Warnings over ‘World War Three’

It was a bizarre, if not downright stupid, intervention by the SNP leader. Although she’s as tough as old boots, politically she’s never expressed such hawkish military sentiments before.

Mr Jack said that the Cabinet had been told, in briefings shared with opposition parties such as the SNP, that the UK “should not put in place a no-fly zone”.

He said that a Nato jet would have to decide whether to shoot down a Russian plane “within hours” of a no-fly zone being implemented “and that escalation would be unbelievable”.

Warning that this would potentially drag the West into “World War Three”, Mr Jack said: “We can’t put ourselves in that position.”

It is for the First Minister to explain her extraordinary statement, which is a dramatic change of tune for a party that has traditionally been enormously reluctant to support the British Government in any foreign entanglement.

If her words mean anything, she seems prepared to go farther than either the UK or the US would wish. Is she prepared for the consequences?