Russians must oust evil Putin

■ Those in power in Russia now exert the same harsh conditions on their people as the Tsars did over 100 years ago. While most of the population live in poverty, those who support Putin live in luxury.

Nothing has changed in Russia bar more devious ways to get rid of enemies. Sadly without support from the West, Russia will destroy Ukraine then produce a vote that says Ukrainians want to be part of Russia. Surely people deserve better than this.

Guy Middlewood, York

■ Why doesn’t NATO and the EU put a multi-million pound bounty on Putin and his cronies. Surely this would make him run for cover in his bunker like Gaddafi and Saddam? It would also confine him to Russia because if he left someone would claim the reward.

Good luck to Navalny’s wife Yulia in her quest to bring them down, and my respects to the Navalny family and any brave Russian that stands against Putin.

M Bell Newcastle upon Tyne

■ If anybody needs convincing that we must help the Ukrainian people defeat Russia, read what Vitali Klitschko said to the Mirror (22 Feb). His assessment of the war to date is correct and if Ukraine is beaten Putin would most certainly turn his attention to either Poland, Finland or the east of Germany. Hungary is far too friendly with Russia. It might be because they are frightened of what it could

do, but what we mustn’t do is fall into the trap of appeasement because it doesn’t work with a mad man like Putin.

Tony Howard, Salford

■ The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, is right to express his concern at the dire consequences if Ukraine were to be defeated in its defence of its sovereign nation by Russian forces. It would only embolden Putin to invade and overrun other countries on its borders.

The West is not doing enough to stop Putin from realising his ambition to create a superstate. And Klitschko made a valid point, that the Russian people were,

in effect, the key to bringing down Putin and his iniquitous regime.

Michael Smith, Chatham, Kent

■ How many more people who dare to criticise Putin have to be murdered before the people of Russia realise they are being ruled by a psychopathic megalomaniac.

This once great nation is on its way to being outlawed by the rest of the civilised world thanks to Putin. It’s time for the Russian people to stand up, be counted and rid themselves of this maniac. Roger Grant, Thurnscoe South Yorkshire

■ It is shocking that it has already been two whole years since Putin’s farcical “special military operation” in Ukraine which has meant the loss of thousands of innocent lives.

My heart goes out to the brave Ukrainian people who are fighting for their freedom.

C Vickery, London