The threat to Europe that the wrangle over Ukraine poses could be removed today if only world leaders would do what each other wants.
Russia could withdraw its 100,000 troops massing on three sides of Ukraine’s border as the West demands.
And bingo! Crisis solved.
Or NATO could agree that Ukraine should not join it, withdraw combat forces from Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and take its missiles out of Romania, as Vladamir Putin says it should.
Sorted! Peace in our time.
The squaring-up over Ukraine could all be part of a massive international gamble by Russia and the West to see who blinks first.
After all, Mr Putin assures us he has no intention of invading his neighbour.
Joe Biden and Boris Johnson tell us that no matter what happens, we will not fight the Russians.
Yet the US President ordered another 3,000 American troops to Poland on Friday. And Mr Putin is galvanising his soldiers for action.
Britain, Germany, Denmark, Japan and the Netherlands have ordered their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.
For leaders who say they are seeking a peaceful solution, these are remarkably warlike preparations.
History tells us how quickly these things can get out of hand. Within 37 days of a relatively minor terrorist incident in Sarajevo in 1914, the world was at war and 40 million people perished.
But it is not too late to pull back. It will require delicate diplomacy, but more importantly, understanding on both sides.
Mr Putin will need to accept that NATO is not going to retreat to pre-1997 borders.
And we, in turn, must tone down the aggressive rhetoric to convince him NATO really is only a defensive alliance. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate.
We urge all leaders to redouble their efforts to find a compromise.
Honour Sir Sean
Sir Sean Connery was the first and, many say, the greatest 007. His descent into dementia was heartbreaking.
But it shows that even James Bond can succumb to this most awful of illnesses. The $1m his widow Lady Micheline has donated to dementia research is hugely welcome.
But more needs to be done. Degenerative neurological conditions are already Britain’s biggest killer, and with a growing ageing population that will only get worse.
We can expect the 850,000 sufferers today to treble over the next 30 years.
The Tories pledged an extra £800million of dementia funding in their 2019 election manifesto, but we are yet to see any of that money. Finding it must now become a priority.
We know Boris Johnson struggles to tell the truth or keep his promises. But this time, his word must be his Bond.
