The letter from Mr G Humphreys of February 24, ‘History repeated’, is rather a curate’s egg, with some very good observations concerning the ongoing civil war in Ukraine and the current fragile ceasefire.

Mr Humphreys makes an excellent observation when he says PM Cameron is reluctant to sneeze or perform any other function without the nod of approval from Washington.

However, I cannot agree they have been sitting on the fence as they have been the chief driving force and instigators of last February’s coup in Kiev, which has led to the civil war and all the resultant deaths and destruction.

However, Mr Humphreys is correct again when he states it would seem that Washington has become aware belatedly of how disastrous its international diplomacy and interference has been for decades.

But, this does not stop it from trying to incite further trouble in Ukraine by threatening to send lethal weaponry to the Kiev regime, and also to impose further sanctions against Russia.

Conversely I now believe the Europeans regret having been arm-twisted by the US in imposing sanctions against Russia, and are indeed reluctant to do so anymore because they have suddenly realised President Putin wants peace in Russia’s neighbouring country as much as the EU does.

I will however disagree with Mr Humphreys when he says the tragic events in Ukraine do indicate involvement by President Putin with claims of approval by his patriotic Russian people.

The approval from his people has more to do with his efforts in trying to bring about peace in his exhaustive meeting with EU leaders in Minsk.

G A Woodward Nelson Street Swindon