Boris Johnson is right: we should commit to sending fighter jets to support Ukraine
SIR – Unaccustomed as I am to agreeing with anything Boris Johnson proposes, he is correct about committing to sending Typhoon fighter aircraft to Ukraine (report, February 21).
This aircraft is more than capable of fulfilling the Ukrainian army’s needs. We led the push to commit tanks that influenced the US and German stance. We could also send Typhoon fighter jets to Ukraine, once we have trained sufficient numbers of Ukrainian pilots to fly them.
Committing one squadron (12 aircraft) is feasible and would undoubtedly lead to other nations committing aircraft to Ukraine. Steven Hope
Droitwich, Worcestershire
SIR – The West has repeatedly promised to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, but has failed to spell out precisely what objectives have been agreed and what strategy exists to achieve these objectives.
Ukraine cannot simply expect the West to go along with whatever it wishes to achieve. Eight years before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 it annexed Crimea, the recapture of which President Zelensky has now added as a key objective for Ukraine. Should the West really be involved in this? If it had wanted to intervene, it should have done so in 2014. It is now well after the fact, would be very costly in both money and lives, and extremely difficult to achieve militarily.
A reasonable and just ambition for the West to support would be the return of all the land occupied by Russia since February 24 2022. This would provide a clear, principal objective to pursue. Calculations for money, men and munitions could be made and a plan formulated. Ukraine and its allies could then work to deliver this outcome with clarity of mind and unity of purpose – and we in the West would understand precisely what is being done in our name. David Platts Syerston, Nottinghamshire
SIR – Archbishop Justin Welby (report, February 24) is correct to be wary of a Versailles-style outcome when Ukraine eventually defeats Russia. At present, however, and despite sanctions, Russia’s economy is intact, its vast natural energy reserves continue to make money (and are protected), and the West has little power to directly extract money that has no conscience.
Perhaps a reparation tax would be more effective. Levied on every Russian export, money raised could be earmarked specifically for the rebuilding of Ukraine, while acting as a reminder to Russia that the bigger the action, the greater the consequences. James Moore
Exeter, Devon
SIR – How dare Archbishop Justin Welby tell Ukraine what terms it must or must not apply if it enters into an agreement with Russia to end the war? If Ukraine decides to seek reparations from Russia for the colossal damage it has done, that is Ukraine’s business. The Archbishop should concentrate on his day job.
Tom Williams
Sheffield, South Yorkshire