• FURTHER to the recent correspondence about Ukraine (Another view of the conflict, March 16), it is worth mentioning that the USA-UK sentiment of defending the Ukrainian people with substantial military aid lacks historical perspective.

Who are the Ukrainian people, which ethnic minority can claim to be Ukrainian?

Apart from a short period in history (1918-1920) over the centuries the territory now called Ukraine variously belonged to Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Romania and possibly also to other neighbouring countries.

The territory – without any specific name – was home for many ethnic groups.

When we talk about defending the Ukrainian people, which section are we referring to?

The Russians who – notwithstanding president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Russian-Jewish origins – arguably have been having a hard time under the Ukrainian regime, the 200,000 Hungarians who are now discouraged from maintaining their Hungarian ethnicity, or any other ethnic group?

Which ethnic group represents the Ukraine?

DR AGNES KORY, NW3