Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his country’s ambassador to the UK

Vadym Prystaiko had recently criticised the president’s response to a row over gratitude for British military aid.
He had called Mr Zelensky’s promise to thank the UK defence minister every morning “unhealthy sarcasm”.

Kyiv gave no official reason for the dismissal but confirmed that Mr Prystaiko was no longer ambassador.

Earlier this month, Ben Wallace said he had warned Ukraine that its allies were “not Amazon”, saying Kyiv 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 President Zelensky criticised the military alliance for delays in making Ukraine a member.
Mr Wallace’s remarks had stirred anger in Kyiv and he later said his words had been “somewhat misrepresented”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reacted by saying he had been “struck” by how much Ukraine valued the UK’s support.
“How else can we show our gratitude?” Mr Zelensky said in response to the defence minister’s comments. “We can wake up in the morning and thank the minister. Let him write to me and tell me how to thank him.”

Mr Prystaiko said last week there had been 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,” he told Sky News.

He had been in his post in London since 2020 but on Friday Mr Zelensky issued a presidential decree announcing his sacking, saying he had also been removed as Ukraine’s representative to the International Maritime Organization.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was “sad to say goodbye” to Mr Prystaiko, calling him “a great Ukrainian ambassador and friend to this country”.