President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Vadym Prystaiko from his position as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom on Friday after he was openly insulted by the ambassador.
The removal was announced by a presidential order but provided no explanation, noting that Prystaiko had also lost his position as Ukraine’s representative at the International Maritime Organization.
In a recent interview with Sky News, Prystaiko was questioned about comments made by Ben Wallace, the departing British Defense Secretary, who suggested that Kyiv should be more appreciative of the weapons supply from its partners to combat Russia’s occupying forces.
*The Sarcastic remark *
In response, Zelensky said that as a steadfast partner, Britain was always appreciated by Ukraine. In addition, he said Wallace could inform him of how to express his gratitude or how “we could get up in the morning and express our words of gratitude to the minister.” Wallace was quoted by British media as stating this.
Asked whether Zelensky was being sarcastic, Prystaiko told Sky there was “a little bit of sarcasm” when the president “said that each and every morning he will wake up and call Ben Wallace to thank him.”
“I don’t believe that this sarcasm is healthy,” he said, adding that the Russians “have to know that we’re working together.”
Zelensky’s order did not say who would replace Prystaiko, 53, an experienced diplomat and former vice prime minister who had held the post as an ambassador to Britain for three years.