In the face of increasing aggression from a resurgent Russia under Putin, Europe and indeed the world, need to strengthen their defences. Only recently, it was confirmed that the missile which blew up the Malaysian airliner with so many innocent lives on board, was fired by the Russian military, presumably on orders from high officials in the Kremlin.

Seven months ago, there was the first chemical attack on Europe's streets since the end of the Second World War. That attack in Salisbury, UK on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, was an assassination plot by the Russians condemned by Theresa May and all other democratic countries across the globe.

In a short interview aired by the BBC recently, the poisoned spy's daughter said she believed that she and her father Sergei were the victims of a Russian assassination attempt involving nerve agent Novichok. This is a cowardly attempt by the Kremlin to silence its opponents in such a horrendous manner... an attempt which must not be allowed to be repeated.

In 2006, there was also the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian agent who was poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210 at a London hotel. Litvinenko's assassination is a stark reminder of how dangerous Russia has become...

Do we need more proof that Russia is indeed behind all these assassination attempts in Europe?

Jos Edmond Zarb

Birkirkara