After Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to hit back at Russia, the country’s leader Vladimir Putin has lowered his own country’s threshold for the use of nuclear weapons
Ruthless Vladimir Putin invaded his neighbour in a bloodthirsty land grab and now the victim he is pummelling is fighting back with US-supplied missiles.
The whining Russian autocrat must explain why what Ukraine is doing is somehow wrong. International law is on the side of Volodymyr Zelensky’s brave nation while Putin should be answerable to his own people, who are cruelly suppressed by a state terrified of scrutiny.
Britain is being drawn deeper into this conflict, which is not without its dangers. But to look the other way would jeopardise our security and embolden Putin. Britain is a player whether we engage or stick our heads in the sand. Either we let Putin walk over allies or we deter the tyrant.
There are no easy answers but doing the right thing is what counts. When it comes to allowing Storm Shadow cruise missiles sent to Ukraine by Britain, their deployment against military bases in Russia should be a decision for Mr Zelensky alone.
Rural rumble
The turnout at yesterday’s protest by landowners and farmers was much smaller than the 20,000 predicted. It reflected an uncomfortable truth for a cabal which has been cynically inflaming opposition to changes in inheritance tax.
The vast majority of small family farmers will not pay a penny extra and workers who grow our food deserve support. But the fact is that much of the generated hysteria is from tax avoiders furious that their loophole is to be closed – all to fund better rural health, education and transport services.
Opportunistic Conservatives defending their privileged interests and gold-plated tax gifts are nothing new.
Mail model
Winston Churchill stamped his name in the history books and his continued public recognition is deserved.
A new set of stamps is a fitting tribute to a wartime leader who had the opposition licked.
