A Tory minister has defended the UK's refugee scheme which has offered just 50 visas to desperate Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion so far.
The Home Office confirmed on Sunday that only around 1% of the 5,535 applicants with family links in the UK had seen their applications approved.
Foreign Minister James Cleverly insisted the process had "only just started" after the UK faced criticism for the speed of the response to the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since the Second World War.
More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries, such as Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova since the conflict began.
It comes as reports emerged of people being turned back at Calais after travelling hundreds of miles to flee the conflict.
Mr Cleverly was confronted with a clip of a Brit and his family who had been turned back at the French border town in a disastrous interview on Sky News.
Asked why the UK wasn't making it easier for refugees, he said: "Well we are, we have made absolutely clear that we will be supporting refugees.
"At the moment the vast, vast majority of refugees are in countries neighbouring Ukraine and we are providing humanitarian support to those refugees via those host nation countries because that is where the problem is at the moment.
"Most of these people want to get back to their own homes as quickly as possible. We have made it clear that of course we will be generous and open hearted as would expect to Ukrainians seeking to come here to the UK."
Presenter Kay Burley confronted him with a clip of the family who said they had been turned back at Calais, adding: "So we are not making it easier at all, are we?"
Mr Cleverly said he didn't know the details of the case, but insisted that the UK was welcoming Ukrainians to its shores and supporting refugees abroad.
Ms Burley intervened, demanding to know why only 50 visas had been granted.
The top Tory said the situation "has only occurred in the last couple of days" and said the system had been set up quickly.
But the presenter interrupted to say "people are fleeing for their lives".
Mr Cleverly retorted: "If you are going to ask questions, you have got to let me answer."
The pair clashed again on the issue, with Ms Burley saying: "I've asked you several times and we have gone around the houses on the issue."
Mr Cleverly went on to defend the UK's sanctions regime, which he said was having "a real impact on Russian oligarchs and the Russian economy".
He then announced he was leaving to do another interview, saying: "I am afraid I have to go now."
Ms Burley replied, "I'm sure, thank you", before adding: "Make of that what you will."
Tory Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tughendhat led criticism over the Home Office's rate of awarding visas.
"It's certainly not a success is it?" he told LBC. "What we need to do is to make sure that we get the Home Office absolutely delivering, to make sure that we get the support for those who are most in need.
"The British people are extremely generous, you and I both know that.
"This isn't some sort of, you know, illegal scam. This is, perfectly obviously, people fleeing for their lives and we need to be absolutely there to support them."
In another interview, Mr Cleverly branded Moscow's announcement of limited ceasefires and the creation of humanitarian escape routes out of Ukraine "cynical beyond words".
He said the routes set up were "nonsense" because they would take fleeing Ukrainians "into the arms of the country that is currently destroying yours", such as Belarus and Russia.
It comes as Boris Johnson was due to host talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Dutch premier Mark Rutte in the UK today.
