Former UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps has criticized Donald Trump’s handling of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, denouncing the U.S. president’s recent comments on a Russian missile strike as morally ambiguous and deeply concerning.
Shapps expressed frustration over what he called Trump’s failure to distinguish between the aggressor and the victim in the Russia-Ukraine war. Shapps, who served in multiple cabinet roles before becoming defence minister in August 2023, pulled no punches in his remarks.
Declaring himself “disgusted” by Trump’s recent posture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, Shapps pointed to Trump’s reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, where at least 35 people were killed and more than 100 injured. “It’s a sort of weasel language. We used to hear it from the IRA,” Shapps said, comparing Trump’s minimization of the attack to historical terrorist rhetoric in the UK.
“It’s just appalling to hear this sort of thing. It’s appalling not to be able to condemn it properly.”
Former UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One, Trump described the Sumy missile strike as “terrible,” but added, “I was told they made a mistake.” The U.S. president’s reluctance to directly blame Russia triggered an uproar among international figures like Shapps, who warned of the broader implications of such leniency.
“This lack of moral clarity is completely demoralizing for the rest of the democratic world. All anybody needs Putin to do is get the hell out of a democratic neighboring country.”
Former UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps
Criticism Grows Over Trump’s Foreign Policy
Shapps aired his concerns on a podcast hosted by prominent international security experts, including former British MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and former U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta.
During the conversation, co-host Kate McCann pressed Shapps on why Trump might appear so sympathetic to Putin. He referenced Trump’s 2020 impeachment over Ukraine-related dealings, where he withheld military aid in an attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden.
Shapps remarked, “I think I do know what hold Putin may have [over Trump], but I mean, it is not right.”
Trump’s Ukraine stance has drawn backlash not only for his public statements but also for actions taken behind closed doors. Reports allege that he deployed Steve Witkoff — a negotiator who has openly praised Putin — to influence discussions involving Ukraine, prompting critics to question Trump’s commitment to defending democratic allies.
On the campaign trail last year, Trump claimed he could end the war in a day. Instead, his approach has included snubbing Zelenskyy, proposing concessions over rare minerals, and perpetuating misinformation, including his recent false claim that Zelenskyy started the war.
The current geopolitical backdrop only heightens concern. In addition to the tragedy in Sumy, nine children were among 19 people killed in a separate missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown. Shapps emphasized that downplaying such attacks sets a dangerous precedent.
“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…?”
Former UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps
Shapps was knighted this month, following his departure from Parliament after Labour’s landslide win last year. Despite no longer holding elected office, he continues to advocate strongly for Ukraine and Western unity in the face of Russian aggression.
His strong rebuke of Trump’s language and positioning adds fuel to a larger debate over the U.S.’s direction on foreign policy, and the implications of muddled alliances.
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