Times letters: Ukraine’s needs and the impact of sanctions

Sir, If Ukraine is defeated European countries will live in the shadow of Russia’s missiles. Ukrainians need support: first to survive, then to build the free, democratic and prosperous state to which they have a right. The international community has a crucial role to play in this. It must immediately provide more air defence and anti-tank weapons; open lend-lease funding for armaments; enforce safe zones for millions of women and children encircled in Kyiv and other cities; end the grace period for initial US sanctions; sanction the top 100 Russian oligarchs; and introduce total export controls, including on technology. It will be an arduous task, but the free world must help Ukraine to become an inspiring contrast to Russian dictatorship, which is the greatest fear