UKRAINE will not go away and continues to be a trouble spot.

The former premier had to leave the country after his corruption was exposed and people rioted, even though army snipers were used to kill many of the rioters.

Now the people of eastern Ukraine are rioting against the new interim Premier Yatsenyuk. Among those rioting are Russian Ukrainians and Yatsenyuk has stated “the rioters will be punished” even though Russia’s President Putin has said “as a last resort” he would intervene if Russian-speaking people were in danger, at the same time the USA Secretary of State has warned Russia of serious consequences if Russia intervened, as in Crimea.

Ukraine has an accumulated debt of £1.3 billion for Russian gas at a special discounted rate, deadlines have come and gone before without punishment – but Russian patience cannot last forever, eventually they would be within their rights if they cut off supplies to Ukraine.

In return for cheap gas supplies, Ukraine allowed Russia to use two seaports in Crimea and two airfields.

No debtor can expect to get away without payment for goods delivered. Russia would be well within its rights to cut the supply of gas. If they do, what will the US do?

Dennis Barton, Woodthorpe, York.