Ukraine war latest: Two killed in strike on Kherson; Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting civilians in ‘potential war crime’

Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips, Grant Shapps says the delay in giving aid to Ukraine gave Russia a window of opportunity for its new offensive. 

“It is [a] fact that the delay in sending additional aid [to Ukraine] – and here, obviously, the United States Congress was slow on this – had left a hiatus in which, for example, Putin has moved into, or tried to move into Kharkiv.”

He says he is “confident” Ukraine will be able to repel the attack, but says there are a “few difficult weeks ahead”.

“But that didn’t need to happen,” he adds.

Mr Shapps also says “Europeans have to step up as well”, calling for other European countries to commit to spending 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, which the government has said it will do by 2030.

He would not be drawn on whether the UK should change its rules to allow missiles provided by the UK to be used in Russian territory. 

Mr Shapps instead called for Germany and other countries to allow the weapons they provide to be used in Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.