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Zelensky fires Ukraine's ambassador to UK after criticism

Friday, 21 July 2023 11:15 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 21 July 2023 12:19 PM ]

Vadym Prystaiko, center, had criticized Volodymyr Zelensky’s sarcastic response to suggestions from British Defense Minister Ben Wallace that Ukraine should show more gratitude for arms supplies from its allies. (Photo by Reuters)

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the country's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, for criticizing the president's response to a dispute over British military aid.

Prystaiko had criticized Zelensky's response to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace's suggestions that Ukraine should show greater appreciation for arms supplies from its allies.

Zelensky signed a decree dismissing Prystaiko, which was published on the presidential website, without giving a reason for issuing the order.

The dispute began when Wallace told at a NATO meeting in Vilnius this month that the UK was not an Amazon arms delivery service to Ukraine and suggested that Kiev could express more "gratitude" to London.

UK minister warns West 'not Amazon' delivery service for Ukraine weapons

The British defense secretary says the West is not an “Amazon” delivery service for weapons shipment to Ukraine.

Wallace recalled that after receiving a list of weapons requests from Ukraine last year, he told officials in Kiev "I am not Amazon."

Since the beginning of the military conflict in Ukraine, Britain has been one of the main donors of arms supplies to Ukraine while also giving training services to the Ukrainian forces.

At a press conference at the summit, Zelensky responded by saying that he did not know how to clearly express Ukraine's gratitude, adding: “We could wake up in the morning and express our words of gratitude to the minister personally.”

But the Ukrainian diplomat agreed that Zelensky responded to Wallace "with a bit of sarcasm."

“I don’t believe that this sarcasm is healthy. We don’t have to show the Russians that we have something between us, they have to know that we are working together,” Prystaiko said.

UK to spend over $3bn to replenish munitions as Ukraine war depletes stockpiles

The UK says it is planning to replenish its military stockpiles that have been depleted through its military aid to Ukraine.

“If anything happens, Ben can call me and tell me everything he wants,” the diplomat said.

Prystaiko is a career diplomat who has served as ambassador to the United Kingdom since July 2020. He was previously the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine from 2019 to 2020.

Western countries have so far provided or committed to providing Kiev with tens of billions of dollars worth of military equipment.

Ukraine has repeatedly called for more military assistance, notably long-range weapons. Kiev has also frequently asked to be admitted into NATO over the past months.

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