Latest news with #Shapps
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's refusal to condemn Putin is ‘demoralising', says Shapps
Donald Trump's refusal to blame Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine is 'completely demoralising' for democratic nations, Grant Shapps has said. The former defence secretary accused the US president of 'weasel' words over his failure to condemn the Russian ballistic missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 civilians and injured more than 100. Mr Trump blamed Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, and Joe Biden for starting the long-running war despite the images of lifeless bodies, including children, filmed on the streets alongside ruined buildings and burning cars on Palm Sunday. 'You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,' Mr Trump said at the White House on Monday. He said the Russian attack was 'terrible' but added that he had been told it was a 'mistake'. Credit: Sumy Regional Military Administration In what could signal a return to politics for Mr Shapps, the former Conservative high-flyer went further than Sir Keir Starmer in his criticism of the US president. The leader of Mr Shapps' party, Kemi Badenoch, has remained entirely silent on the strike, the deadliest by Russian forces this year. 'I feel disgusted. The idea that the leader of the free world cannot tell the difference between the dictator who locks up and murders his opponents and invades innocent democratic countries and the country itself that has been invaded,' Mr Shapps told the One Decision podcast. Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, five years before Mr Zelensky became president. Putin then launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Mr Trump went on to say: 'Biden could have stopped it and Zelensky could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it. Everybody is to blame.' Of Mr Trump's comments, Mr Shapps added: 'This lack of moral clarity is completely demoralising for the rest of the democratic world…Yeah, I mean, it's a sort of weasel language. We used to hear it from the IRA.' Mr Shapps, who held five Cabinet positions, suggested Mr Trump's promise to end Russia's war against Ukraine was an 'appeasement' of Putin, and accused him of making a Chinese invasion of Taiwan more likely. He said: 'Surely you must understand that if you let one dictator get away with it, what do you think will happen when another dictator walks into a neighbouring state or one just over the water and takes it over?' 'The one thing I believe about Trump is he doesn't want China to walk into Taiwan… you're making the one thing you don't want far more likely,' he added. Mr Shapps' comments represent the strongest criticism of the American's approach to securing an end to the war in Ukraine. Ukraine's most ardent Western supporters have so far been unable to convince Mr Trump to deviate from his apparent strategy of taking it easy on Putin to maintain diplomatic channels in the hope of one day brokering a ceasefire, and then a peace deal. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump's refusal to condemn Putin is ‘demoralising', says Shapps
Donald Trump's refusal to blame Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine is 'completely demoralising' for democratic nations, Grant Shapps has said. The former defence secretary accused the US president of 'weasel' words over his failure to condemn the Russian ballistic missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 civilians and injured more than 100. Mr Trump blamed Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, and Joe Biden for starting the long-running war despite the images of lifeless bodies, including children, filmed on the streets alongside ruined buildings and burning cars on Palm Sunday. 'You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,' Mr Trump said at the White House on Monday. He said the Russian attack was 'terrible' but added that he had been told it was a 'mistake'. In what could signal a return to politics for Mr Shapps, the former Conservative high-flyer went further than Sir Keir Starmer in his criticism of the US president. The leader of Mr Shapps' party, Kemi Badenoch, has remained entirely silent on the strike, the deadliest by Russian forces this year. 'I feel disgusted. The idea that the leader of the free world cannot tell the difference between the dictator who locks up and murders his opponents and invades innocent democratic countries and the country itself that has been invaded,' Mr Shapps told the One Decision podcast. Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, five years before Mr Zelensky became president. Putin then launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Mr Trump went on to say: ' Biden could have stopped it and Zelensky could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it. Everybody is to blame.' Of Mr Trump's comments, Mr Shapps added: 'This lack of moral clarity is completely demoralising for the rest of the democratic world…Yeah, I mean, it's a sort of weasel language. We used to hear it from the IRA.' Mr Shapps, who held five Cabinet positions, suggested Mr Trump's promise to end Russia's war against Ukraine was an 'appeasement' of Putin, and accused him of making a Chinese invasion of Taiwan more likely. He said: 'Surely you must understand that if you let one dictator get away with it, what do you think will happen when another dictator walks into a neighbouring state or one just over the water and takes it over?' 'The one thing I believe about Trump is he doesn't want China to walk into Taiwan… you're making the one thing you don't want far more likely,' he added.
The Guardian
17-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ex-UK defence minister ‘disgusted' by Trump's attitude to Putin and Russia
Pronouncing himself 'disgusted' by Donald Trump's favorable attitude to Russia and Vladimir Putin, the former UK defence minister Grant Shapps said the US president calling a Russian missile strike that killed dozens in Ukraine last weekend a 'mistake' was an example of 'weasel language we used to hear … from the IRA' terrorist group. 'All anybody needs Putin to do is get the hell out of a democratic neighboring country,' Shapps told the One Decision podcast, regarding attempts to end the war in Ukraine that has raged since Russia invaded in February 2022. 'And I just have to [put] this on record: it disgusts me, I feel disgusted [by] the idea that the leader of the free world cannot tell the difference between the dictator who locks up and murders his opponents and invades innocent democratic countries and the country itself that has been invaded. 'This lack of moral clarity is completely demoralizing for the rest of the democratic world.' Shapps, 56, filled numerous roles in Conservative cabinets before becoming minister of defence in August 2023, becoming a key player in maintaining international support for Ukraine. He lost his seat in parliament last July, as Labour won power in a landslide. This month, Shapps was given a knighthood. One Decision is a foreign policy focused podcast, with co-hosts including Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of the British MI6 intelligence service, and Leon Panetta, a former US defense secretary and CIA director. On the campaign trail last year, Trump repeatedly said he would secure peace in Ukraine in one day. Instead, he has angered allies by rebuking the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the Oval Office; sought to extract concessions from Kyiv over access to rare minerals; and deployed a negotiator, Steve Witkoff, whose effusive praise for Putin has attracted widespread scorn. On Monday, Trump repeated his incorrect claim that Zelenskyy started the war. Though talks have been held in Saudi Arabia, the war has continued. This month has seen devastating Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. First, nine children were among 19 people killed in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's home town. In Sumy last Sunday, missiles killed at least 35 and injured more than 100. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said of the Sumy strike: 'I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it's a horrible thing.' Shapps said: 'It's a sort of weasel language. We used to hear it from the IRA [the Irish Republican terrorist group, after attacks killed civilians]. I mean, it's just appalling to hear this sort of thing. It's appalling not to be able to condemn it properly.' Alluding to years of reporting on why Trump has such a favorable view of Putin, with theories ranging from admiration for autocrats to Russia holding compromising material, Shapps said: 'I think I do know what hold Putin may have [over Trump] but I mean, it is not right.' Asked by co-host Kate McCann what he meant by 'hold', Shapps first noted that Trump's first impeachment, in 2020, was for withholding military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to get Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. Shapps also said that by appeasing Putin, Trump was offering encouragement to other autocrats with territorial ambitions. 'Even if you are the Trump White House, surely you must understand that if you let one dictator get away with it, what do you think will happen when another dictator walks into a neighboring state or one maybe just over the water and takes it over? Do you think that people will believe the west when we say you can't do that?'
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Woke nonsense': Grant Shapps hits out at submarine's new name
The decision to rename the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Agincourt is 'woke nonsense', a former defence secretary has claimed. The Astute-class attack submarine, which is still under construction, was due to be named in honour of Henry V's 1415 victory over the French. But the boat will now be called HMS Achilles, a famous name in Royal Navy history. Amid speculation the change was prompted to avoid offending the French, former defence secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Renaming the HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege. 'This submarine carries a name that honours a defining moment in British history. 'Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our armed forces' proud heritage.' Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio the French would not have been offended by the name. He said: 'We're very close to the French. The French are one of our strongest allies. 'They don't get put off by names like that. 'I mean, that shows a very pathetic grasp of foreign policy and relationships.' He added that the French 'celebrate their successes' but 'also know in their history they didn't have all the successes'. 'So, if that is the actual reason it's been renamed, then I would be concerned that it shows we're focusing on superficial nonsense rather than rebuilding our defence,' he said. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'We are proud of our nation's rich military history and the many famous battles fought. 'The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called Achilles, a name which is particularly appropriate this year as we mark the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries. 'Achilles received battle honours during the Second World War. 'The name was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King.' In October last year Grant Shapps launched Conservatives Together, a group that aims to pick the party back up after a record electoral defeat. Mr Shapps who lost his own seat in July, told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference that the organisation was an independent group of MPs, former MPs, candidates and former candidates. Mr Shapps said it was 'definitely not a think tank' and will not be allied to a particular leadership campaign or candidate. 'We are thinking about: 'How do we support conservatives at every level of the party who are involved in the party to campaign more effectively?'' he said.
