Not backing Ukraine a short-sighted option

L SMITH’S offering (“Can we afford to keep spending on this war?”, Opinion, November 18), regarding not supporting Ukraine, is, I believe, very short-sighted.

The reason Putin was encouraged to attack Ukraine was because the western powers did nothing when he marched into Crimea.

Just read your history books and you will see that if you don’t stop tyrants early, you lose.

You may win the war eventually, but what about the cost in lives and standards of living?

The bear is banging on our back door; are you going to be the one who leaves it unlocked?

Ron Gretton

Carlton