I found the Russian Federation Ambassador’s article (‘The Russian viewpoint’, April 28) both interesting and alarming.

He makes a fair point about the Soviet Union’s role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 but conveniently ignores the fact that the Soviets invaded Poland at the same time as Germany did in 1939 and they carved the country up between them.

He also fails to mention the ‘Pact of Steel’ between the Soviet Union and Hitler in 1938.

Additionally, although he is perfectly correct in criticising the West for its role in Iraq and, possibly, Libya, his statements on the expansion of Nato in an easterly direction are a gross distortion of the truth. The fall of the Soviet Union liberated a number of former Warsaw Pact members that rushed gleefully into membership of Nato. The Baltic states were particularly keen to join and now feel seriously threatened by Russia’s aggressive behaviour.

The ambassador fails to mention the alarm publicly expressed by neutral Sweden and Finland very recently over Russian submarine behaviour in their territorial waters.

Add to that Russia’s behaviour in Georgia a few years ago, more recently in East Ukraine, sending in vast quantities of weaponry and, possibly, troops as well, its illegal annexation of the Crimea, its discussions with Argentina in which weapons may well be supplied (strange that Argentina is in dispute with the UK, a Nato country, over the Falklands) and a picture of aggression clearly emerges.

All this is so ridiculously sad and unnecessary. I can understand Russia’s historic suspicion of Western Europeans, having been invaded by them in 1812 and 1941, as well as having fought Germany from 1914-17, but there should be a natural alliance between Christian Russia and the West, not sabre rattling or worse.

Malta, having distinguished itself in aiding the end of the Cold War 25 years ago, may perhaps be in a good position to play a part once again in reducing tensions between Nato and Vladimir Putin’s Russia.