Sir, – If Eoin Ó Murchú is so positive in relation to China’s role as a peacemaker in Ukraine (Letters, March 14th), perhaps he could explain why China has failed to support either the UN Security Council or General Assembly resolutions seeking an end to the war.
As regards the 2015 Minsk II agreement, Russia has always insisted that it was not a party to the conflict and therefore not bound by most, if not all of its terms, in particular the commitment to withdraw foreign troops and mercenaries.
The facts are that on February 21st, 2022, Russia, in direct contravention of the agreement, officially recognised the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The next day, Putin declared that the Minsk agreements “no longer existed” and Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. – Yours, etc,
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‘I could have gone to California. At this rate, I probably would have raised about half a billion dollars’
MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – I read with interest a letter submitted by Russian ambassador Yuriy Filatov regarding Russia’s policy on nuclear weapons (Letters, March 14th). However, given his previous pronouncements regarding Russia’s intent in relation to Ukraine, can he or the Russian government be taken seriously?
I don’t believe they can. – Yours, etc,
CONOR HOGARTY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Did you really have to publish such a long and self-serving article from the Russian ambassador to Ireland. While it’s good to be balanced, you should reserve this for meaningful debate, and edit out rhetoric that continues to somehow cast Russia as a victim that was compelled to attack Ukraine.
This continued hypocrisy must be hard to bear for the 70,000 displaced Ukrainian refugees who were forced to flee to Ireland.
Mr Filatov, who, in the weeks prior to the invasion, said it was a fantasy that Russia was going to invade Ukraine, has shown nothing but contempt for the destruction and suffering of a sovereign nation his leader is intent on obliterating. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL RYAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.