Top Tory Nadhim Zahawi has been accused of using Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine as a "justification" for giving nurses a real-terms pay cut.
The Conservative Party chairman urged NHS staff to send a "message” to the Russian tyrant, whose invasion has been blamed for surging energy prices.
It comes as tens of thousands nurses are set to go in strike in ten days' time and on 20 December in a bitter dispute over pay and working conditions.
Last week ambulance workers also voted for industrial action and thousands are expected to walkout later this month.
Asked about a wave of strikes set to hit Britain, Mr Zahawi told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We have to come together.
"This is not a time to be divided to, I hope, send a very clear message to Mr Putin that he can’t use energy as a weapon in this way and we will remain united, which is why we have accepted the pay review bodies on the NHS and on schools and others.”
He said the Russian President is using "energy as a weapon because he's failing so badly in his illegal war in Ukraine".
Speaking on Sunday the Tory Chairman a lso confirmed contingency plans for the army to be drafted in to fill critical roles and minimise disruption.
The Cabinet Office later said around 2,000 military personnel and civil servants are being trained to support a range of services in the event of strikes going ahead.
But the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) fumed at Mr Zahawi's comments.
General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: "Using Russia's war in Ukraine as a justification for a real-terms pay cut for nurses in the UK is a new low for this Government.
"The public does not believe this kind of rhetoric and wants ministers to address our dispute".
She added: "Nursing staff cannot afford their food and other bills and still fear the worst on energy this winter.
"But our campaign is about more than today’s cost of living crisis - it’s a cry for help for an NHS that’s had a decade of neglect. Record numbers of nurses are leaving because they feel undervalued and patients are paying the price.
“Ten days until our strike action is due to begin, I reiterate my commitment to meeting with ministers to address our dispute. Instead of negotiating with nurses, they are choosing strike action.”
Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Christine Jardine MP said: "It is ludicrous and insulting to suggest Vladimir Putin is responsible for nurses going on strike.
"Conservative ministers wasted billions of taxpayers' money on dodgy PPE contracts and now are refusing to offer a fair pay rise to nurses.
"The responsibility lies firmly with this Conservative Government’s shambolic failure to find a solution.”
Nurses will receive pay rises of about £1,400, with averages of about 4% to 5%, but union leaders are demanding an increase above the current rate of inflation.
