Ukraine’s Ambassador to U.K. Booted After Roasting Zelensky’s ‘Sarcasm’
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Ukraine's UK ambassador criticised 'sarcastic' Zelenskyy in Sky News interview days before sacking
Vadym Prystaiko has had the job in London since July 2020, but has been dismissed after wading into a row between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the UK defence secretary about military aid for Ukraine.
Friday 21 July 2023 11:11, UK
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sacked his UK ambassador, days after he criticised the president on Sky News.
Vadym Prystaiko was dismissed this morning, just over three years to the day since he was given the job in London.
Zelenskyy sacks UK ambassador - live updates
A diplomatic source told the PA news agency Mr Prystaiko had been fired after publicly criticising Mr Zelenskyy.
Speaking to Sky News' Kay Burley last week, he labelled the president's "sarcastic" response to demands he shows more gratitude for Western support as unhealthy.
Zelenskyy's spat with Wallace
It came after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace appeared to show frustration with Mr Zelenskyy's continued requests for more military aid.
"The UK is not an 'Amazon' delivery service for weapons to Ukraine," he quipped at a NATO summit in Lithuania.
Mr Zelenskyy later said: "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."
Zelenskyy's response 'not healthy'
Mr Prystaiko distanced himself from his president's response during his interview with Kay Burley.
"I believe it was responded by a little bit of sarcasm," he said. "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.
"If an issue happens, Ben [Wallace] can call me and tell me everything he wants."
Read more:
Can Ukraine win the war - or are we kidding ourselves?
Prystaiko's long career in politics
As well as being sacked as UK ambassador, Mr Prystaiko has been removed as Ukraine's representative to the International Maritime Organization.
Before being appointed to London in July 2020, he spent two decades working in Kyiv's foreign policy unit.
He has worked in embassies and consulates around the world, including in Australia, Canada, and the US, and was Ukraine's head of mission for NATO in 2017.
Mr Prystaiko has also served as his president's foreign policy adviser and deputy chief of staff.
Ex-Deputy PM for Euro-Atlantic Integration Prystaiko appointed Ukraine's Ambassador to UK
On June 4, Ukraine's parliament dismissed Prystaiko as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed former Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Ukraine's parliament appoints Stefanishyna as Deputy PM for Euro-Atlantic integration
Relevant decree No. 287/2020 was posted on the presidential website on Monday, July 20.
By decree No. 286/2020, the president dismissed Natalia Galibarenko from the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Maritime Organization.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on June 4, Ukraine's parliament dismissed Prystaiko as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
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