Putin’s second-rate military

Sir, – Those who warn the West against crossing Vladimir Putin’s latest red line should explain it is different this time.

The Russian president did not launch nuclear weapons when the West provided anti-tank weapons, F-16 aircraft, modern tanks, Himars (advanced rockets), Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) or Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

All of these systems had been the subject of dire warnings from the Russian regime. Lately Ukraine has created a successful diversion in Kursk and destroyed a weapons depot in the Tver region, which would have been used to wreak death in civilian areas of Ukraine.

Mr Putin is a bluffer and the West must not capitulate again to this second-rate military, it has been obvious for years that appeasement merely invites further atrocities. – Yours, etc,