The West is rightly escalating its sanctions on the Russian economy. It is unfortunate but necessary that these sanctions and associated boycotts of the Russian market by major corporations impose a cost on Russian families. If Vladimir Putin is to reassess the cost-benefit analysis of war against Ukraine, he must feel the anger of both the oligarchs and the people.

Still, robust sanctions should not entail ridiculous stupidity. I note that in light of the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra canceling a Tchaikovsky-featured concert next week. Wales’s foremost Philharmonic says that playing Tchaikovsky was “deemed to be inappropriate at this time.”