Sir, – As a former Irish ambassador to Russia, I want to row in behind Paul Gillspie’s article on the Russia-Ukraine war (“Europe must end its juvenile taboo against talking to Russia”, June 13th). It was measured and thoughtful but very clear in its central theme: the need for dialogue between the EU and Russia on ending this terrible, bloody conflict.As things stand right now, Russia cannot be defeated on the battlefield. Direct involvement by Nato powers to drive Russia out of Ukraine or a big escalation by Russia to shorten the war would both risk nuclear nightmare. Prolongation of the war keeps Europe weak and recklessly focused on the distraction of rearmament as an economic catalyst. There are solutions other than war. These would give proper weight to the causes of Russia’s illegal invasion. They would also allow an Irish EU presidency to draw on our own experience in recent decades in confronting problems of contested government, sovereignty and conflicting identity in our divided island. – Yours, etc,JIM SHARKEY Nutley Road,Donnybrook,Dublin 4.