Nato should no longer stand on the sidelines of the war in Ukraine

There is almost universal reluctance to consider any military intervention on the ground to support Ukraine. This gives Vladimir Putin the impunity he needs to continue and to intensify his total war on Ukraine and its people. He is little deterred by the sanctions imposed by western powers on the Russian regime.

Nato stands on the sidelines of Ukraine, frozen in its inaction by its fear of triggering a third world war and of Putin’s threat of nuclear attack. But is this not already a third world war by proxy?

Success for Putin in Ukraine would embolden him to turn his attention to other countries that he aims to bring back under Russian hegemony, including those now independent and members of Nato.

Indeed, Nato alone can act to prevent this conflict spreading, and needs the courage to stop Putin in his tracks now.

Stan Underwood

Lincoln

As Tony Blair intimated in the seminar at Kings College on 16 March, there is a two-fold threat to our long-term security and survival.

On the one hand, we have a government devoid of a plan for the future beyond rhetorical gestures of short-term expediency. And on the other, we have right-wing politicians who will exploit the cost-of-living crisis to lobby for an erosion of any actions in response to the perils of climate change; the better to serve their personal interests and those whose investments they serve.

We are governed by those who regard the maintenance of political power as their only goal and do not see it as the route to achieving a better world for all our citizens, now or in the future.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

In a period when assaults on women have been much in the news, I cannot help wondering whether the efforts of Ms Forstater and co are not being misdirected.

Having scanned the news and internet I’ve been unable to identify many assaults by these dastardly transgender women they seem to fear so much, nor even any assaults by men wearing women’s clothing. I would venture that rather more may be ascribed to men wearing police uniforms!

Are they perhaps more opposed to the existence of transgender people in general, as I would have thought that few men would take the trouble to seek gender recognition in order to attack women, particularly as it would require living as a woman for some time in order to qualify.

So I would suggest they stop this witch hunt of trans people and concentrate their efforts on more pressing issues such improving the prosecution rate of rape and assault perpetrators and creating safeguards to prevent domestic abuse.

As for the increasing numbers of de-transitioners, I would love to see their statistics and evidence of this. Their questioning of puberty blockers for young people determined to go through gender reassignment is also misplaced. Rather than such treatment being irreversible, it is the irreversibility of puberty that such young people fear most, which will forever put them at a disadvantage in the life they wish to lead.

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For trans women in particular, changes at puberty are difficult to eradicate, sadly leaving them targets for the discrimination that can be a significant incentive to revert to their birth sex role. Such discrimination can only be aggravated by the cruel campaign these women are determined to lead. I am left to ponder what their definition of transphobia might include.

While efforts to increase trans inclusivity may sometimes go over the top, I’m sure a consensus approach is possible in such recent developments. Also, difficult areas such as prisons and sport will always need to be dealt with on a case by case basis, but there can be no case for the general vilification of trans people that could so easily result from these “gender activist” activities.

Sarah Wood

Address supplied

I agree with Will Gore’s article about double glazing. I’d agree with him more if he’d mentioned solar panels on roofs and balconies.

My wife and I would have installed both 20 or 30 years ago. Living in a grade II building has caused an insurmountable problem, which is called English Heritage. They may be stricter with grade I, but in grade II it is okay to change anything indoors.

English Heritage will not allow any changes outside, so no double glazing and no solar panels. The consequence, as Will Gore mentions, is thin-paned glass, with cold and wind coming in from all directions.

It would help if they would stop acting like Mrs Bucket, letting appearances prevail. It would also help if the government (whichever party) would be supportive.

Tom van den Bergh

Tunbridge Wells