By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko from office.
BBC report says Prystaiko was sacked after publicly criticising the president’s response to a row over gratitude for British military aid, accusing him of ingratitude.
He had called Zelensky’s promise to thank the UK defence minister every morning “unhealthy sarcasm”.
Authorities in Kyiv have not disclosed official reason for the dismissal but confirmed that Prystaiko was no longer the ambassador.
Earlier this month, Ben Wallace UK’s Defence Secretary said he warned Ukraine that its allies were “not Amazon”, saying Ukraine needed to show gratitude for weapons it received in order to persuade Western politicians to give more.
He was speaking at the NATO summit after Zelensky criticised the military alliance for delays in making Ukraine a member.
“How else can we show our gratitude? We can wake up in the morning and thank the minister. Let him write to me and tell me how to thank him,” Zelensky said in response to the defence minister’s comments.
The sacked envoy told Sky News there was a “little bit of sarcasm” in his president’s response, which he believed was “unhealthy”.
“We’re not expecting anybody to fight for us, we only ask for equipment,” he said, adding “Ben can call me and tell me anything he wants”.
