A chara, — An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is correct, I’m sure, in describing Russia’s aim in Ukraine as “an 18th-century imperialist objective” resulting in “a needless killing of young people on all sides” (“Taoiseach condemns Putin’s ‘threat of nuclear deployment’ in Ukraine”, 21 September). His condemnation of Putin’s “veiled threat of nuclear deployment” is also right and proper. However, Mr Martin’s call for Russia to unilaterally declare a ceasefire is unrealistic. This has been Nato’s mantra since February 24th, even while pouring weapons into Ukraine to sustain Ukraine’s war effort. If an immediate ceasefire and, with it, the elimination of the nuclear threat are truly Mr Martin’s desire, he would be well advised to differentiate his remarks from those of the belligerent states comprising Nato.
Otherwise, one must conclude that he is at one with Nato. – Is mise,
DOMINIC CARROLL,
Ardfield, Co Cork.
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Sir, – Funny that the Russian Federation’s insistence on referendums in the areas it has invaded does not extend to any similar consultations with the inhabitants any of its 21 so-called republics?
– Yours, etc,
JOHN WHITE,
Arbour Hill, Dublin 7.
Sir , – The results of the referendums on joining Russia, to be held in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzia, are already known in the Kremlin. However those results won’t be published until two days after the referendums are held.
– Yours, etc,
MICK O’BRIEN,
Springmount,
Kilkenny.