NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen was unequivocal on Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday morning, when he said that the Ukraine problem could only be solved through “diplomatic and political channels”. He and Ukraine’s new President had agreed that “there is no military response”. Mr Rasmussen added that this did not mean that NATO would not protect its allies. “No one should doubt our determination and resolve when it comes to the defence of our member states”. By way of example, Mr Rasmussen said that NATO had increased military flights over allies Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. However, Rasmussen also said that a Europe, “whole, free and at peace ... should invest sufficiently in common defence and security”. “Defence comes at a cost,” he went on, “but insecurity is much more expensive”. In view of the damning report from the House of Commons’ Defence Select Committee, which last week questioned whether our Armed Forces can tackle emerging threats because of recent cuts, his warning is both timely and apt.