We desperately need a higher level of debate on Russian imperialism than that provided by George Monbiot (I never thought I’d argue for rearmament. But a looming Trump presidency changes everything, 4 July). I accept that there are reasoned arguments for supporting Ukraine’s anti-colonial resistance. But increasing Britain’s conventional arms in order to “support other European nations” and “perhaps to defend ourselves”? The evidence that Russia might attack or invade European countries is feeble.
Russia is in no position to take on Nato. According to the Royal United Services Institute, Russia faces “increasing material challenges” with maintaining its defence industry and military operations just in Ukraine, and is only doing so right now by avoiding large-scale troop offensives and by taking inferior tanks and degraded ammunition out of storage.
