Nuclear naivety

Gill Turner thinks that “we can ill-afford” our nuclear deter rent( Letters ,11 May ), which she describes as a “firststrike weapon ”. A fairly characteristic misrepresentation.

I am sure that Vladimir Putin must rub his hands with glee when he reads such articles, just as the Soviets did at the antics of the Greenham Common women.

No doubt she thinks that the Russians would be nice to us if we had no defence against any nuclear threat they might make against us once we had disarmed?

This well-meant naive ty should be put back in its outof- date box. She and others who subscribe to this outlook should look at the example of Ukraine, which once had almost the largest nuclear arsenal in Europe. It gave it up, with Russian assurances and guarantees.

Now Russia occupies the eastern par t of Ukraine and has taken Crime a. Q ED. Enough said.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh