Putin foolish to think internal rows show West's support for Ukraine is waning, Shapps says
Vladimir Putin would be "foolish" to think internal political disputes in the West are a sign that support for Ukraine is starting to crack, Grant Shapps has said.
The Defence Secretary, speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, said that the Russian president would be "foolish if he misinterpreted those signs" when asked about faults in the Western alliance.
It comes after the Western alliance was hampered by a series of events recently, including support for Ukraine being dropped from a US stop-gap budget bill, the triumph of a Russian-supporting party in Slovakian elections, and disagreements between Poland and Ukraine about grain supplies.
With the US election taking place next year, Mr Shapps said that the possible election of Donald Trump would not automatically lead to America reducing its funding, which was described as the "worst-case scenario".
Mr Shapps said: "I don't think it's entirely clear what would happen if, indeed, Trump won the nomination, if, indeed, Trump then won the election.
"One thing we do know about Trump is he has a big issue with China."
The Defence Secretary said that "many experts" would suggest "that you don't want to accidentally send a message to China that force is OK to use", as it might encourage Beijing to move on Taiwan.
He said: "No, I don't think the worst-case scenario is Trump because what then happens would be the real question."
Mr Shapps emphasised that, no matter what the outcome of the US election, the UK will continue to "take a leadership role" in Ukraine.
The Defence Secretary added that the normal budget-setting process was being followed for 2024's funding for Ukraine.
The UK committed £2.3bn of military support in 2022 and the Government confirmed it would sustain that in 2023.
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