Sir, – Whenever the dust and ashes settle and the bodies and bombs have ceased to fall in Ukraine, it seems not improbable that in eastern Europe there may well be a heave to the political hard right, characterised by fervent nationalism, patriotism and glorification of the motherland.
Unsavoury factions in all parts of Europe would gleefully facilitate such a development.
EU members in eastern Europe who have borne the brunt of the exodus of people fleeing for their lives may feel the EU did not do enough to assist them in dealing with the extraordinary emergency they were compelled to cope with.
They may wonder whether an economic and defence alliance with Ukraine and Moldova, which places them at the decision-making centre of their own destinies, may serve them better.
They may well continue to feel existentially endangered by their neighbour Russia, with or without its pseudo-tsar Putin, truly a little-man emperor with no clothes and no shame.
Such a development may be understandable but it would be regrettable, ill-advised and dangerous since the inevitable fracturing of the EU which would result, and possible subsequent splintering of Nato would be exactly what Putin and his cabal have always sought.
All decision-makers in the EU should bear such a scenario in mind with every policy, strategy and tactic taken to contain the current crisis. – Yours, etc,
PATRICIA MULKEEN,
Ballinfull, Sligo