EU backs regime established by thugs

Remarkable. A short time ago, Europe’s Mr Ego, José Manuel Barroso, current president of the European Commission, was imperiously dismissing any idea that Scotland, a democratic country that has been a part of the EU for decades, could be accepted into the European club and obtain any of its benefits as an independent member.

Yet Brussels is now ready to stump up billions of EU taxpayers’ money to prop up an unstable and illegitimate regime in the Ukraine, established by rampant thuggery and naked  aggression.

This comparison should dispel any doubts about the underlying motives for the enthusiastic embrace of the renegades in Kiev by the US-EU-Nato axis.

It has nothing to do with freedom and democracy and everything to do with the realpolitik of strategic and geopolitical advantage.

Adrian Marlowe

The Hague

Netherlands

It is intriguing how many echoes of the past are set off by the current situation in the Ukraine.

Is the EU’s interest in absorbing this country a revival of Germany’s historic “Drang nach Osten” (thrust to the East) pursued intermittently from the time of the Northern Crusades and the Teutonic Knights up to Hitler’s disastrous foray?

Will the Ukraine become the site of a new Great Game between Russia and the West like that played with Imperial Britain on the north-west frontier of India in the 19th century (perhaps still ongoing)?

Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s claim to be protecting “Russian citizens” is very reminiscent of Tsarist Russia’s mission to protect the Balkan Slavs – a significant factor in the outbreak of the First World War.

Peter Jones (Perspective, 4 March) asks if Scotland wants to say goodbye to meddling in these matters. As interesting as it all is, I’m afraid my answer must be: “Yes, please!”

S Beck

Craigleith Drive

Edinburgh