We now need to urgently turn the pressure up on Putin to withdraw from Ukraine

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

It would be a timely demonstration of western frustration with Putin’s intransigence (AP)

Since Vladimir Putin seems to be showing absolutely no intention of stopping his annexation of Donetsk and Luhansk, never mind the Crimea, is it not time to turn up the pressure on him to withdraw? It seems to have escaped notice that the Kaliningrad Oblast (previously German Konigsberg) lying between Poland and Lithuania, would be a suitable candidate to be invited to join Nato, the EU or even to be found “a fascist regime”, hence ripe for “liberation”.

Deploying Putin’s false rhetoric against him, a threatened invasion of Kaliningrad could be a suitable bargaining tool to force a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. Obviously, it would be a strategy that involves significant (massive) risk of nuclear escalation, but might be a timely demonstration of western frustration with Putin’s intransigence. Time for a build-up of Nato forces on the Polish and Lithuanian borders with Kaliningrad, perhaps?

Alistair Vincent

London

If the cap fits

In the classic comedy series Dad’s Army, series 5 episode 6, “If the cap fits”, it is mentioned that earlier Captain Mainwaring conducted a lecture around “how to send Hitler a poisoned carpet”. According to the platoon leader, splendidly played by Arthur Lowe, it was well known the Fuhrer liked “chewing rugs”. Anyway, I have located the DVD containing such a gem and – to assist in the never-slowing, Boris Johnson stupid ideas circus – sent it to No 10 with a note suggesting he modifies the plan to deal with a present-day despot, namely Vladimir Putin. What could possibly go wrong?

Robert Boston

Kent

Boris Johnson could learn a thing or two from Edward Heath

On a recent trip to Salisbury, with an hour or two to spare, we decided to visit Edward Heath’s house at Arundells. What a contrast! Statesman, pianist, conductor, sailor, army officer who cared for his men... compare that with the boorish oaf who is the present incumbent.

David Hooley

Dorchester

There’s nothing democratic about our prime minister

What’s democratic about the prime minister being elected by a majority vote from 359 Tory members of parliament?

Michael Pate

Lancashire

Boris Johnson has no idea how to lead

We now learn that Mr Johnson believes that his leadership role in No 10 during the various lockdowns was that of “maintaining morale” in the No 10 workforce. To do so in a way that so obviously was in direct contradiction with the directives created for, and expected of, all other citizens and employees beggars belief. A cursory search for a key component of effective leadership confirms the importance of being a stickler for upholding laws. This can only be achieved by consistently demonstrating exemplary behaviours necessary to comply with established organisational rules and regulations.

By doing the opposite, flying in the face of accepted mores, actually undermines morale and respect for the law among the whole workforce by sending mixed messages. Being regularly exposed to any boss’s disregard for the accepted rules merely embarrasses the genuine, honourable and hardworking employees while simultaneously emboldening the excesses of those who harbour rogue, self-interested ambitions.

Mr Johnson’s recent public denigration of working from home cited the distractions provided by the potential of unfettered access to the distractions of coffee and cheese. These elements, he proposed, manifested in creating a significant loss of concentration and focus, and thus, undermined productivity. This merely revealed his own failings, inadequacies and lack of self-discipline. Similarly, his idea of leadership, of showing disregard for the rules, probably showed us his preference for the sort of leadership that he believes would have enabled him to flourish in his previous employment opportunities by overlooking his own brazen, unabashed personal and professional untruths.

Nigel Plevin

Somerset

Imperial measurements should be taught – as history

Quite right, Ian McNicholas of Ebbw Vale, we should all have the right to imperial measurements. After all, what is a pint but 568 millilitres or a quarter of mint imperials as 113 grams? Just don’t waste children’s education teaching imperial measurements as anything other than history.

Andrew Bennett

Prayssac, France

Whatever the future holds, ‘The Firm’ will rise to the occasion

I read Emma MacKenzie’s column (The Queen’s popularity is phenomenal: what will “The Firm” do when she is gone, 31 May) with interest and I watched the crowds massing on the mall to cheer and clap for a diminutive figure but monumental in appeal to many generations. She looked humbled by this outpouring for her platinum jubilee appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. MacKenzie is right that as a young woman, she had no idea that she would ascend the throne and take on the task of uniting a country. But she rose to her role and this is what has garnered her so much respect, her innate desire to serve her people and her stoical behaviour to whatever befalls her.

Like many people, I have great time for her because she has kept her promise of service through good times and bad. I have a feeling too that the younger royals will step up to the plate and indeed Prince Charles, who was mocked interminably for his comments about the environment has come in for approbation as being ahead of his time. So whatever the future has in store, “The Firm” will I think rise to the occasion, although the Queen has set the bar incredibly high.

Judith A Daniels

Norfolk

Where is the balance in jubilee coverage?

I am very much a defender of the BBC. However, coverage of the monarchy lacks any balance whatsoever. When today on Radio 4, on the news, I was told that all feel a sense of participation in the jubilee celebrations, I felt that the coverage went too far: this was a definite untruth. And why wasn’t there even a short analysis of the hereditary principle?

Cole Davis

Norwich