Sanctions against Russia will affect us too – but we must see them through

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

Our discomfort caused by sanctions will be nothing compared with what a European war would inflict (EPA)

As the impact of the anticipated huge rise in the cost of living begins to be felt by us all, there is a real risk we will cease to give as much attention to events in Ukraine. It is absolutely critical that the suffering of the people there is not allowed to drop out of the news cycle.

Our only response to Putin’s crimes against humanity has been to impose sanctions. This means that we are in it for the long haul. Those same sanctions will affect us too.

Please don’t tire of hearing the grim news; we must see this through. Unless we eventually degrade Putin’s ability to wage war, he will continue with his mad schemes. Our discomfort caused by sanctions will be nothing compared to what a European war would inflict.

Graham Barlow

Wirral

​​Support Russian protesters

It may seem odd to declare, but I am so pleased to find myself in such good company with your other correspondents.

I am as scared as I have ever been by the emergence of a volatile and “consequence free” Russia. The knot in my stomach gnaws away each day, slightly relieved by the occasional ray of light from around Europe and the number of anti-war protesters growing inside Russia.

It is only by supporting those protesters inside Russia that Mr Putin may eventually be persuaded that his domestic popularity is at risk – only then will he draw back.

We should all be alarmed by the warlike noises that emanate from Europe and the USA – this is no way to “reassure” Putin. With a £1m bounty on his head, which may get bigger, we will all sleep much more soundly if the chances of his survival are high – as this is all he really cares about, as with all dictators.

John Evans

Pulborough, West Sussex

Western hypocrisy

Please forgive my cynicism but I’m finding the stench of hypocrisy from western leaders over Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine rather overwhelming.

Thirty years ago, the genocide of Bosnian Muslims by Serbian nationalists began unhindered by the US, Britain, Nato, the EU or the United Nations. Ten years later, Iraq was invaded illegally, according to the UN, by the US, British and other countries’ troops, leaving the Middle East in perpetual turmoil.

The USA has a gruesome history invading and interfering in Latin American and South American countries such as Haiti, Panama, and the British protectorate of Grenada. It funded and armed internal coups against democratically elected leftist governments in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

More recently, Afghanistan and Syria were invaded by western forces, leaving those countries in arguably worse conditions. The City of London is regarded as the money-laundering capital of the world, recycling Russian money. Blair and Cameron were quite relaxed about this even when Putin tore up his own constitution to cement his autocratic murderous regime.

The USA and Britain were happy to invade countries and facilitate Putin’s power grab and hidden wealth when it benefited their own economies, so please let’s hope modern leaders in those countries put an end to dirty, blood-stained money-laundering and engage in honest reflections on past behaviour which only encourages despots like Putin.

Steven Walker

Walton on Naze, Essex

Clap for Ukraine

Let’s hope the standing ovation and clapping led by Boris Johnson in parliament for the Ukrainian ambassador yesterday does not equate to the clapping our whole nation gave to the frontline medical staff and other services during the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic – that is, amounting to nothing but condescension.

Des Ng

Address supplied

Shifting responsibility

The UK is delaying sanctions on Russian oligarchs for fear of being taken to court by them. This is an interesting development for a government which has already unlawfully prorogued parliament, is trying to rewrite an international agreement it signed, and whose No 10 operation is currently being investigated by the police for breaking lockdown regulations it imposed on the rest of the country.

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But good news for Jacob Rees-Mogg – this could be an unforeseen “Brexit benefit”, as quoted from a government source: “The idea that if the EU sanctions them first … will help us”. 

Could this be because the government realises it is in deep trouble because it has encouraged Russian millions into “Londongrad” (otherwise known as the “Laundry”) and relies heavily on their donations to the Conservative Party?

Yet all is not lost. The PM has promised to “publish a full list of all those associated with the Putin regime”, thereby putting the onus on British businesses to avoid working with Kremlin allies.

It is also up to us, the public, to avoid stores owned by oligarchs. This is a very similar policy to relying on “Great British common sense” when abandoning all Covid regulations to placate Tory backbenchers. When it is used as a policy to avoid offending a dictatorship attempting to annex another country, however, I believe the correct term is “appeasement”.

Katharine Powell

Neston