WE read a lot about how Nato expansion has created a significant threat in some way to Russia, and this is often considered the main rationale for the invasion of Ukraine last week. Or maybe we should say “special military operation” to reduce the chances of spending time in jail should tourism to Russia ever become possible again.

The notion that Nato somehow poses a military threat to Russia is a bit difficult to fathom, however.

We know that Europe has never been particularly keen on paying for its own defence and that, with the exception of France, has no meaningful capacity for operations outside of their own countries without significant support from others – mostly the US and the UK.

Since the late 1980s, the number of US military staff in Europe has reduced from some 350000 down to around 65000 – a drop of more than 80%.

In 1990, RAF had more combat aircraft in Germany alone than in the whole RAF today. UK military staff in mainland Europe has dropped by more than 90% from around 90000 to around 5000.

Perhaps I’m missing the obvious, but how exactly are Russia being militarily threatened by Nato expansion when Nato’s main military commitment on the continent has reduced over 30 years by up to 90%?

The real threat which Russia faces is exactly the same as the USSR and Warsaw Pact that countries faced prior to the end of the First Cold War. What happens when their own people discover and then aspire to the living standards which citizens in Western Europe then, and in the EU now, take for granted?

The threat is not to their territorial integrity but to the privileged and incredibly wealthy existence of their ruling class once their own people demand to access their rightful share of the wealth of their country.

They are not scared by a Nato offensive military presence which no longer exists on the European mainland in any real sense.

What scares them is the economic benefits which trading within the single market has brought to countries from Eastern Europe who have already joined the EU.

What terrifies them is how they explain to their own people why they are not entitled to aspire to this same future.

Gus McSkimming

Ardrossan

AT the outset let me say I deplore the military aggression in Ukraine. We’re having calls to sanction Russia, supply weapons to Ukraine, take in refugees etc.

I would like to ask where all these calls were when the USA, sometimes on its own, sometimes in concert with tame allies, invaded the island of Grenada; invaded Iraq (based on fake news); engineered the overthrow of a democratically elected government in Chile ... it goes on.

The capitalist elite want the entire world to dance to their tune, and suppress any deviation. There are no “good guys” in the world’s governments as far as I can see. Both camps subject their populations to unremitting propaganda.

If you care to look up the definition of communism, you’ll see that, in spite of the propaganda from both Washington and Moscow, it has never been applied in a rational caring manner in the USSR/Russia. What they have had is a very wealthy clique trying to run the country for their own benefit and ego. Sound familiar Boris? Donald? They employ similar tactics.

If you want to stick a label on the Soviet/Russian system, probably bureaucratism is closer than communism. Sadly, the punters like you and me are the collateral damage when these sociopaths are allowed free rein to force their political/religious systems on others.

Barry Stewart

Blantyre

THE other day I was watching the first episode of the new series of “Rise of the Nazis” and Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. It was chillingly so reflective of Putin and Ukraine.

Hitler put three million German troops on the border and told Stalin that they were just military exercises in preparation for invading Britain. And then they invaded the Soviet Union. Just as Putin has done with Ukraine. The Nazis told the German people that the war was going well, when in fact they were failingly badly, just as we see the desertions and confusion of Russian soldiers when captured, and lies they say they were told.

That they would be welcomed with flowers and gratitude.

And now I have heard from Garry Kasparov that Putin is hiding in a bunker and not listening to anyone, just as Hitler did.

It is so ironic that Putin accuses Ukraine of being run by fascists, when it is in fact Putin acting like the fascist and doing a good job of impersonating Hitler.

But maybe that gives us a small hope – we all know what happened to Hitler in the end!

Crìsdean Mac Fhearghais

Dùn Eideann

I SAW from reports that vans and containers filled with relief for Ukraine are finding it difficult to leave Britain as they’re caught up in the 20-mile tail back leaving Dover, and the accompanying red tape brought on carriers after the introduction of Brexit.

Would it not be possible for several charities in Scotland to charter a ship from Rosyth to Zeebrugge? There was a ferry in the past and it would mean that the long and expensive drive through England to Dover would be unnecessary.

Everyone in Scotland is doing all they can to help the Ukrainians, perhaps this might expedite matters somewhat.

D Moran

Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway