• LET’S not mince words or have any truck with his excuses (“Russian ethnicity” and “Nato expansion”), Vladimir Putin is a man who does not care about the huge loss of life incurred by his macho posturings and his invasion of an independent country, all in pursuit of Russian empire.

So far it’s 14,000 deaths in the Donbas region of Ukraine. This is what happens in large countries with dictators. China is going down the same path (Hong Kong, Taiwan).

And why are we supporting them through trade? Because all that matters to the West is cheap gas, laundered money, and cheap consumer goods, with the flimsy excuse that this business will help “normalise” these corrupt regimes. Fat chance.

NIGEL ARMISTEAD, NW5