It is “up to the Russian people” who leads their country, according to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi.

His argument comes after US President Joe Biden said Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to remain as Russian president.

Mr Zahawi told Sky News: “Both the White House and the president have been clear on this.

“We are in lockstep with them that it is up to the Russian people to decide who governs them and the future of their country.”

Mr Zahawi was asked whether he agreed that Mr Putin should not remain in power and replied: “No, what I would say is it is up to the Russian people.

“I think the Russian people are pretty fed up, not only because they are watching their friends – and some of them have family in Ukraine – being attacked by the Putin regime – clearly war crimes have been committed because they are targeting innocent civilians, in civilian areas.

“But I think President Biden is right to say that Putin has no place in the Ukraine.

“They have to make sure that they withdraw from Ukraine because it is an illegal invasion of the Ukraine – I think he is absolutely right in that.”