President Zelensky dismisses Ukraine ambassador over criticism

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has reportedly taken the decision to terminate the services of the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko.

The dismissal comes in the wake of Ambassador Prystaiko’s public criticism of President Zelensky’s response to comments made by UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace regarding British military aid to Ukraine.

The controversy was ignited when Defence Secretary Wallace suggested at a NATO summit in Vilnius that Ukraine should demonstrate more gratitude for the arms supplies provided by its allies.

Wallace stated that Britain was not a mere “Amazon delivery service” for weapons to Ukraine, prompting a call for Kyiv to express appreciation for the substantial military assistance received from the UK.

President Zelensky’s response to the comments at the summit was deemed by some, including Ambassador Prystaiko, to be sarcastic. Zelensky conveyed his uncertainty about how else to express Ukraine’s gratitude, remarking, “We could wake up in the morning and express our words of gratitude to the minister personally.”

In the aftermath of the summit, Ambassador Prystaiko agreed with an interviewer from Sky News that Zelensky had responded with “a little bit of sarcasm” to Wallace’s remarks. However, Prystaiko expressed concern over the use of sarcasm, asserting that it may not be conducive to healthy diplomatic relations. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a constructive partnership with the UK and smoothing over any potential misunderstandings.

The dismissal of Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko was confirmed through a presidential decree signed by Zelensky, as published on the presidential website. The decree, however, did not provide specific reasons for the ambassador’s removal from office.

The United Kingdom stands as the second-largest donor of weapons to Ukraine, having pledged a substantial £4.6 billion in military assistance to the nation so far. Furthermore, British troops have been actively involved in training thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.

Vadym Prystaiko, a seasoned career diplomat, assumed the role of ambassador to the United Kingdom in July 2020. His tenure saw significant developments in Ukraine-UK relations, making his departure from the position noteworthy.