don’t know where G A Woodward got the idea that Ukraine is pro-Nazi. Has he been listening to Russian propaganda?

It is true that western Ukraine (part of Poland at the time) fought on the side of Germany, but so did others including, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Croatia.

There was also a Dutch SS unit. There were other Soviet citizens fighting for Germany, including Cossacks, White Russians and Turkmens, all promised independence by Hitler.

Surely, this has all been forgiven and mostly forgotten.

All the Ukrainian people want now is their sovereignty and independence to run their own affairs and if they choose to ally themselves with European institutions then that is a matter for them.

The reason the UK is involved is because we are signatories, alongside others and Russia, to guarantee Ukrainian independence.

The only other two states whose sovereignty is guaranteed by the UK are Belgium and Uruguay. It was because Belgium was invaded that Britain entered the First World War.

Mr Putin is an opportunist and an old-fashioned colonialist. By nibbling away he hopes the fallout will benefit Russia.

There are three other states with large ethnic Russian populations (two Baltic states and Moldova). Success in Ukraine will not stop him from continuing – just the reverse.

Robert Major Eldene Swindon