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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 MARCH 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications The Russians are coming NO, I am not referring to the 1966 American comedy film directed and produced by Norman Jewison. Rather, I am ruminating on the aftermath of the current, tragic and unwarranted war raging in Ukraine. Understanding the stuff Putin is made of should serve as an eye-opener to all and sundry. Spending long years working in Russian intelligence he has quickly become one of the most powerful and feared politicians in the world. One must not forget how former President Donald Trump had often been criticized for cosying up to the leader of a country that is thought to work to undermine Western de- mocracies. At the time the Berlin Wall was be- ing pulled down he is reported to have expressed that "it was clear that the (Soviet) Union was ailing. And that it had a terminal disease without a cure — a paralysis of power." He has shown that he has a strong authoritarian tendency and expansion- ist ambition. In November 2016, Putin spoke at a televised awards ceremony for geography students and asked a 9-year-old boy where Russia's borders end. When the student answered, "At the Bering Strait, near the U.S.," the Russian president laughed and correct- ed him: "Russia's borders do not end anywhere." Since he had long foreseen the ef- fects of any sanctions the West would impose on Russia once he decides to continue with his expansionist drive into Ukraine following the Rus- so-Georgian War, the triggering of two Chechen Wars, the military incursions into South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and the annexation of Crimea, Putin start- ed exploring and nurtured an effective relationship with China that is reaping dividends in spite of the recently im- posed sanctions. All along Putin has carefully crafted his strongman image. If NATO and the EU were to disin- tegrate, it would be a victory for Putin. He has been expanding Russia's power around the world, including in the Middle East, and NATO is one military obstacle that prevents him from fur- ther extending his influence through- out eastern Europe. Of course, we need to pray for peace in Ukraine, hold peaceful protests, push for more diplomatic efforts to bring it around and the economic and financial sanctions were imposed in a timely manner hoping to unleash an atomic bomb effect. But is that enough and will they stop this Hitler-like vi- sionary autocrat? I wonder. I liken him to one who is ready to accept and hold in one hand the ol- ive branch while with the other he is stealthily slinging his loaded gun ready for the fire. Dr Mark Said Msida Chinese donation TO commemorate the 5Oth anni- versary of Malta-China diplomatic relations, the Chinese Ambassador to Malta H.E Yu Dunhai, presented a cheque of €2,000 to the Pembroke Athleta Football Club. The donation was made possible with the intervention of the current President of the Malta China Friend- ship Society, former minister Reno Calleja. The donation was used by the club to purchase two new goalposts. Accompanied by the AFC presi- dent and secretary Alex Calleja and Julia Caruana, and Pembroke mayor Dean Hili, the Chinese ambassador mixed with the children training in the football ground and gave each child a personal gift. Calleja thanked the Am- bassador for this generous gift. Mayor Dean Hili remarked that his Council office will soon be a neighbour of the Chinese embassy which will be built in Pembroke. China and Malta have been married for 50 years, and once again China has shown that this is not a marriage of convenience but a marriage of love. Reno Calleja Malta-China Friendship Society