Pursue diplomacy, not troops

Russia and Ukraine

Regarding “Opinion: What Putin really wants from the Ukraine crisis,” ( Jan. 12): I am not an apologist for President Vladimir Putin. I am not an admirer of his. But Bret Stephens in his description of this confrontation between Russia and Ukraine is overlooking one comparison to historic events that should raise warning flags in the United States. Putin is looking at the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, then having NATO weapons, possibly offensive nuclear weapons staged in Ukraine within minutes of Moscow. He is looking at himself falling into the same situation that President John F. Kennedy found during the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago. And this perceived aggression in Ukraine will also not be accepted by Putin and the Russians today.

In 1990 U.S. Secretary of State James Baker assured the Russians that NATO would not expand to the east and become a threat to Russia. It was not a signed agreement but sometimes that's how things get done. And Putin is holding us responsible to live up to that commitment. Stephens' recommendation of an emergency airlift of military equipment to Ukraine and the eastern front is a huge mistake.

Joe Mumbach, Houston

Regarding “Russia demands U.S., NATO response next week on Ukraine,” ( Jan. 14): Watching the movie “Bus Stop” on Turner Classic Movies reminds me of the Russian/

Ukraine standoff. In the movie, Don Murray is determined to cart off Marilyn Monroe, in spite of her protestations. He becomes quite belligerent until a savior, the bus driver, Robert Bray, steps in and pummels Murray until he quits the abduction.

Russia is trying to forcibly carry off Ukraine. The U.S., with support from

NATO and Western Europe, must stop this abduction.

Orlando N. Campos, Houston

Sen. Ted “Cancun” Cruz is the king of chutzpah. Just a day after groveling on Tucker Carlson's show about his denouncing the Jan. 6 assault on Capitol Hill as a “violent terrorist attack,” Cruz chided President Joe Biden for being “soft on Russia.” What kind of tough action does Cruz propose? Surely not a military response; we already have an armed forces cemetery in Killeen full of soldiers who died in dubious military interventions.

One needn't be a Putin protagonist to appreciate that eastern Ukraine (Donbas) is part of Russia's 1,225 mile western land border with Ukraine. Donbas is in Russia's front yard, not ours.

George W. Aldridge, Belton