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| Ukraine war: Grant Shapps 'abandoned Odesa trip over security threat' | Ukraine war: Grant Shapps 'abandoned Odesa trip over security threat' |
| (25 days later) | |
| Grant Shapps made his second visit to Ukraine as defence secretary last week | Grant Shapps made his second visit to Ukraine as defence secretary last week |
| Grant Shapps aborted a trip to southern Ukraine last week for "security reasons", the UK defence ministry said. | Grant Shapps aborted a trip to southern Ukraine last week for "security reasons", the UK defence ministry said. |
| The defence secretary had to scrap his visit to Odesa last week after UK intelligence reportedly warned Russia had become aware of his travel plans. | The defence secretary had to scrap his visit to Odesa last week after UK intelligence reportedly warned Russia had become aware of his travel plans. |
| Mr Shapps was due to travel to Odesa a day after a missile hit the city while the Ukrainian president and the Greek prime minister were visiting. | Mr Shapps was due to travel to Odesa a day after a missile hit the city while the Ukrainian president and the Greek prime minister were visiting. |
| Five people were killed in the strike, Ukrainian authorities said. | Five people were killed in the strike, Ukrainian authorities said. |
| Mr Shapps had travelled on an overnight train from Poland to Ukraine, accompanied by chief of the defence staff, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, and a small team of British officials. The aim of their journey was to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration. | Mr Shapps had travelled on an overnight train from Poland to Ukraine, accompanied by chief of the defence staff, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, and a small team of British officials. The aim of their journey was to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration. |
| But having arrived in Kyiv on 7 March, Mr Shapps's onward journey to Odesa was cancelled abruptly at the last minute, following fears surrounding his safety. | But having arrived in Kyiv on 7 March, Mr Shapps's onward journey to Odesa was cancelled abruptly at the last minute, following fears surrounding his safety. |
| According to the Sunday Times, external, which had a reporter travelling with his delegation, the trip was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlin's knowledge of it. | According to the Sunday Times, external, which had a reporter travelling with his delegation, the trip was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlin's knowledge of it. |
| It added that the strike in Odesa the previous day raised the threat level to Mr Shapps's safety from substantial to critical. | It added that the strike in Odesa the previous day raised the threat level to Mr Shapps's safety from substantial to critical. |
| "Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless," Mr Shapps told the newspaper. | "Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless," Mr Shapps told the newspaper. |
| "The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesn't matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. | "The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesn't matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. |
| "What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?" | "What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?" |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "On a recent trip to Ukraine, the defence secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons. | A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "On a recent trip to Ukraine, the defence secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons. |
| "The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the defence secretary's visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putin's aggression." | "The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the defence secretary's visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putin's aggression." |
| Earlier this week it emerged that an RAF plane carrying Mr Shapps between the UK and Poland had its GPS signal jammed while flying close to Russian territory. | Earlier this week it emerged that an RAF plane carrying Mr Shapps between the UK and Poland had its GPS signal jammed while flying close to Russian territory. |
| Mr Shapps's comments come as the Latvian foreign minister called on the UK and other Nato countries to consider conscription to deter Russia. | Mr Shapps's comments come as the Latvian foreign minister called on the UK and other Nato countries to consider conscription to deter Russia. |
| In January, the Baltic state bordering Russia re-introduced conscription - meaning men aged between 18 and 27 must complete 11 months of military service - in a bid to increase the size of its army | In January, the Baltic state bordering Russia re-introduced conscription - meaning men aged between 18 and 27 must complete 11 months of military service - in a bid to increase the size of its army |
| Asked by the Sunday Telegraph, external if the UK and other countries should follow Latvia's model, Krisjanis Karins said "we would strongly recommend this". | Asked by the Sunday Telegraph, external if the UK and other countries should follow Latvia's model, Krisjanis Karins said "we would strongly recommend this". |