Russia and nuclear war

SIR – Now that two British citizens have been sentenced to death by a sham court in Russian-controlled Ukraine, there can be no doubt we are dealing with a deranged megalomaniac.

Vladimir Putin claims to be like Peter the Great in developing a greater Russia. He is also stealing food, which the worryingly ineffective UN says will starve millions in Africa.

This man has already attacked Britain with the nuclear weapon material polonium-210 and the most deadly chemical weapon Novichok. As his conventional forces are performing so badly, it might be a small step for him to reach for the red button.

The Prime Minister must ensure first that Mr Putin is fully aware that any use of nuclear weapons will produce a similar and greater response from Nato, and secondly that Britain is full prepared for a nuclear strike. Our resilience has languished in the long grass since the end of the Cold War.

Frankly, all the other issues being batted around by rival parties in Westminster are irrelevant if we are not resilient to a nuclear strike.

Col Hamish de Bretton-gordon (retd) Former Commander, UK & Nato Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Forces

Magdalene College, Cambridge

SIR – I believe Germany and Chancellor Olaf Scholz are being criticised unfairly about arms for Ukraine. Nobody can be expected to pay for the weapons for both sides in a war – and pay for their own defence as well. Sorry, I forgot the Americans are paying for that.

S W Jennings

Kempston, Bedfordshire