To the EDITOR The West is running out of time to save Ukraine’s grain and prevent catastrophe
SIR – The destruction, loss of life and war crimes we have witnessed in Ukraine over the past few months are appalling. But these will all pale into relative insignificance if the grain currently stored in that country is not moved to where it is needed, and this year’s harvest rots in the fields (“How Putin’s war could reap a bitter global harvest”, report, May 20).
Maintaining the status quo simply allows Vladimir Putin to inflict devastation akin to that of a nuclear attack without crossing the Rubicon.
We have, at most, a few weeks to act. The time for talking and handwringing has long since passed. Every person on the planet with an ounce of humanity can see the imperative of shipping that grain.
We need to do whatever it takes, now. The logistical challenge is monumental. Only the military (in reality, Nato) has the command and control to achieve such an operation, and, if necessary, defend it.
If good people do nothing evil will prevail, with consequences that we have not witnessed since 1945. Twenty-first century history will turn on the decisions our leaders make in the next few days.
Patrick Loxdale
Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire
SIR – The US and Royal Navies have vessels in the Gulf to ensure the supply of oil. We should put vessels in the Black Sea to ensure the supply of grain from Ukraine.
Robert Ashton
Shrewsbury
SIR – In view of Vladimir Putin’s threat to choke off a significant portion of the world’s grain supply, is there not a humanitarian case for Ukraine urgently to invite the United Nations to put a peace-keeping force into Odesa?
Air Cdre Michael Allisstone (retd) Former Chief Staff Officer (Logistics), Ministry of Defence Chichester, West Sussex
SIR – Could the UN not organise something similar to the Berlin Airlift to get the grain out of Ukraine to safety and then to hungry nations, not least those of Africa?
Is it too much to ask this colossally costly organisation to pull out every stop to run lorries from Poland? Are the Russians going to be allowed to destroy food destined for the rest of the world, including nations who are not involved in this revolting war? Richard Newman
Wetherby, West Yorkshire