Sir, – "The embassy strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against a peaceful diplomatic mission" (News, March 8th). Surely the Russian embassy's comments on the smashing of the gates in Rathgar must rate as the "black humour" quote of the century. – Yours, etc,
JIM COSGROVE,
Lismore,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – A Russian embassy spokesperson: “The incident is cause of extreme concern. We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.”
Referring to President Putin, no doubt! – Yours, etc,
TOM CLEARY,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The Russian embassy says that the knocking down of its embassy gates in Dublin “is an act of insanity directed against a peaceful diplomatic mission”. Perhaps it would be better minded to concern itself with the acts of outrageous savagery being perpetrated against a peaceful independent country. – Yours, etc,
MJ NOLAN,
Carlow.
Sir, – It is “barbaric”, the Russian ambassador says, to damage the gates to the Russian embassy. How might an invasion and attack on a sovereign state be described? – Yours, etc,
MARINA LYNCH
Dublin 6.
A chara, – I guess the Russian embassy doesn’t do irony. – Yours, etc,
ÁINE DALY,
Gleangeary,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I understand that a truck containing ecclesiastical supplies was driven through the gates of the Russian embassy in Dublin. I bet the ambassador was incensed. – Yours, etc,
PAUL GRIFFIN,
St Helens, UK.
Sir, – Does this mean Ambassador Filatov is surplice to requirements? – Yours, etc,
CHRISSIE BYRNE,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Vladimir Putin is a notorious liar who massed and retained in excess of 100,000 heavily armed troops on the borders of Ukraine, all the time proclaiming the deceit of having no intentions toward invasion. At practically the same time he was flaunting the might of his marine military power a few hundred miles off the south coast of Ireland and, by geographic implication, off the western seaboard of Europe.
Ceasefires to enable safe movement of civilians have been consistently breached.
Certain characteristics we can be sure of are the boundless extent of Putin’s ego, his blatant dishonesty, and his desire to regain and, if unchallenged, to expand the territorial reaches of the former murderous Soviet regime. Why would he not swagger when not a finger was raised as he marched his forces unchallenged into Crimea in 2014? Should we ask ourselves, as citizens of a modern state, whether we should have to suffer the cringing embarrassment, as Irish nationals abroad depend on our diplomats negotiating a hitched ride on aircraft of other nations, when war emergencies require prompt repatriation of Irish citizens, as occurred in Afghanistan?
The world and Ireland’s place in it have moved on over the past 200 years, for the better in many regards. But there are still many tyrants and despots who seem to effortlessly acquire power which they happily utilise to achieve their own self-serving savage ends and to imperil the decency of the democratic ideals of the free world to the detriment of all.
Surely it is timely to have an informed debate on the whole question of our neutrality. – Yours, etc,
FRANK SLOWEY,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – As an act of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and as a reminder to Russia of the views of the Irish people, I suggest we change the name of Orwell Road to Kyiv Road. – Yours, etc,
DUNCAN NUGENT,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Diplomacy has failed. This dictator Vladimir Putin must be made aware that despite his nuclear threats, civilisation at large will not bow the knee to such arrogance.
He has displayed total disregard for humanity, human life, or public opinion.
I believe the time for talking is over, and I sincerely hope that Nato will declare a no-fly zone, and bring this bully to his knees. – Yours, etc,
PAUL O’BEIRNE,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – This is Putin’s war, not Russia’s. The people of the Russian Federation have long been captured by an autocracy, rooted in oligarchic support, nostalgic militarism, and klepto-capitalism, and deprived of a pluralist media and independent judiciary. While Nato has made major mistakes in the lead-up to this war by ignoring Russian fears of being encircled, this in no way justifies Putin’s land-grab.
Though messy and imperfect, a possible diplomatic package to save lives, horrific injury and destruction is likely to include some permutation of the following: the relationship of a section of the Donbas region with Russia is put up for negotiation, in line with the preferences of people in the separatist part of that region; Ukraine forsakes any intention to join Nato, and instead has its neutral status endorsed in international agreement; Ukraine receives substantial funding from the West to assist its economic development, with suitable safeguards against corruption; dependence on Russian gas and oil is systematically reduced as part of a Green New Deal in Europe; and procedures for greater disarmament – particularly, though not exclusively, nuclear – follow in the wider geopolitics. A rush to greater militarisation in Europe via increased defence budgets is in no one’s long-term interest. In time, Ukraine’s membership of the European Union should be given generous consideration.
Our view is that Putin’s actions are those of a war criminal. He has won some battles, is likely to win some more, but he has already lost the war. A workable compromise is now urgent, lest the consequences of delay result in even more horrific outcomes, to little benefit for the Ukrainian people. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BOYLE,
BRENDAN BOYLE,
COLETTE GAFFIKIN,
FRANK GAFFIKIN,
LORNA GOLDSTROM,
IRENE KENNEDY,
LIAM KENNEDY,
FIONA McARTHUR,
MALACHY
McELDOWNEY,
MILDRED
McELDOWNEY,
THERESA MORAN,
IRIS NESBITT,
KEN STERRETT,
Belfast.
Sir, – The term “The Beast from the East”, common four years ago regarding our weather, would seem to have taken on a new meaning these days. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS BAYNES,
Bray, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – The deliberate targeting of civilians in the Ukraine conflict is a crime against humanity. Innocent people being blown up and killed in indiscriminate bombing by the Russian military is a war crime.
How can we in western nations sit idly by and watch our neighbours fleeing for their lives, being slaughtered by a manic despot in the Kremlin? How can we in the West live with ourselves knowing that whole families have been wiped out in towns, cities and villages all over Ukraine? What quarrel had 10-year-old Polina or her family with Putin? Are we to watch as he destroys Ukraine and makes it another no-go area, where human rights are suppressed and the media is blocked from telling the truth? What is an acceptable number of deaths before the western allies finally intervene and give Ukraine the required air cover it needs. Some 600 missiles have been fired by the Russian military in Ukraine yet the reaction from the West is “we won’t get involved, it’s not part of Nato”. I commend all those young men from all over the world who are now joining the international legions to help their neighbours in Ukraine fight the Russian military. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Sir, – Our Constitution states that we are devoted “to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination”. The website of the Department of Foreign Affairs states that it “promotes Ireland’s interests and values in the world”. Why are we not taking a more proactive role in addressing the current situation in Ukraine? Ireland as a small neutral country could have a pivotal role in the peaceful resolution of this and other international conflicts. Being neutral does not mean staying silent. It is the only way to a peaceful resolution of the current crisis. – Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH CULLEN,
Kilcullen, Co Kildare.