4 days ago
Trump cannot be allowed to betray Ukraine in his desperation for a deal
SIR – The naivety of President Trump's approach to Ukraine is both incomprehensible and a threat to European security. He is surely bound by the terms of the Budapest Memorandum of 1995, signed by Bill Clinton, to respect the sovereignty and 'existing borders' of Ukraine as they were then.
His apparent determination to do a grubby deal, under which Ukraine would cede land brutally seized by the Russian aggressor, would be an abject betrayal of Ukraine and an incentive to President Putin to pursue his declared goal of rebuilding the former Soviet Union, threatening the hard-won independence of the Baltic and other Soviet vassal states. Russia's thugs must be removed from every inch of stolen land.
Sir Gerald Howarth
Former minister for international security strategy
Chelsworth, Suffolk
SIR – Charles Moore (Comment, August 9) is so right about Ukraine. The talks in Alaska should not be about appeasing an invader, divvying up the mineral rights of a country not in the room, or driven by Donald Trump's desperation to get a deal. Nor should it be about who holds the best cards. It is about the future of a free, independent and sovereign Ukraine. The only individual who can negotiate and sign off an acceptable peace deal is Volodymyr Zelensky. He needs to have Europe's full support.
David Kenny
Tredunnock, Monmouthshire
SIR – Charles Moore is correct – Ukraine does have the strength and resolve to stand up to Russia, but the fact is that if a superpower decides to invade an independent neighbouring country, it will always have the strength to prolong the fighting – no matter how difficult it becomes. The only way Russia can be made to withdraw is for likeminded nations of the West to combine and impose crippling sanctions on Russia that will seriously undermine its economy. Mr Trump must not be allowed to award Vladimir Putin land that is not his.
Brian Cole
Robertsbridge, East Sussex
SIR – Does the real-estate entrepreneur Donald Trump really expect Ukraine to hand its land over to Russia just to please him and advance his interests? I wonder whether he is also considering trading Alaska, so it can be reunited with Russia and help Vladimir Putin to re-establish a Greater Russia – something he aspires to.
Graham Lilley
Edge, Gloucestershire
SIR – Is America (a third party) really going to offer parts of Ukraine to Russia, without even seeking the views of the Ukrainian president or its people? This is like France offering Texas to Mexico.
Huw Wynne-Griffith
London W8
