Shapps: Don't be scared by Putin's nuclear sabre-rattling

BRITAIN must "stand up to bullies" in the face of Vladimir Putin's chilling threats, the Defence Secretary said yesterday.

- Tara Fair

Grant Shapps made the rallying call in Poland during Nato's largest drills since the Cold War, which involve UK troops.

He hit back after the Russian president signalled Moscow was prepared for nuclear war and had ordered strategic bombers into Nato's Baltic backyard.

Mr Shapps declared Putin should "drive back East" and get out of Ukraine - and said Britain should be spending more money on defence to protect itself in a "pre-war world".

Irresponsible

The Cabinet minister said: "Putin has been sabre-rattling again, muttering on about nuclear weapons.

"He should not be irresponsible like this.

He is the person who is doing the sabre rattling there is no excuse for that.

"All that needs to happen to resolve this is he needs to drive back East and get out of the democratic country that he decided to invade two years ago. That is the way to bring this whole thing to a conclusion.