Should we stand up to Russia more firmly?

IT’S clear that in the recent past Britain has not been nearly strong enough in its condemnation of rogue states — be they banana republics or the Eastern Bloc, especially Russia. We have, on the face of it, shown ourselves as a soft touch! If Putin is behind the atrocity in Salisbury, we have to respond robustly. Sanctions would be too weak on their own. If a Russian plane or ship gets anywhere near our country, we should respond with not just a couple of jets but a massive show of force and be prepared to shoot down any enemy aircraft or sink any ships. Putin is taking the proverbial and won’t stop until he and his failing economy are brought back into the real world.

Terry Mcdonald-dorMan, Middleton-st-George, Co durham. I BELIEVE Mr Putin has in the past issued a warning that any spies, be they abroad or in Russia, will be poisoned. As I understand it, the recent poisoning was of a spy still actively whistleblowing on Russia. We do ourselves no good by looking at ways of retribution, as the average Russian sympathises with Putin’s action in the UK. I am, by the way, a Conservative and certainly do not agree with Putin assassinating any heads of political opposition in Russia.

vaUGhan ClarK, Gravesend, Kent. WHILE the use of poison on British soil must be vigorously opposed and, if possible, the culprits punished, one should see the Russian point of view. Most Russians would have cheered the news, I would have thought. Equally, if MI5 had managed to kill our traitors such as Kim Philby and George Blake while in Russia, wouldn’t a lot of Brits cheered? I would have. siMon CaMpBell, Glasgow.