UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sounded an off note in London’s normally harmonious relationship with Kyiv on Wednesday, suggesting Ukraine should show more gratitude to its allies and griping Britain is not an “Amazon” for military supplies.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak moved quickly to head off the suggestion that London was annoyed by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s fierce lobbying at the NATO summit for more Western support in his battle against the Russian invasion.
And Zelensky himself brushed off any suggestions of tension in the relationship.
But, against a background of Ukrainian frustration that the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius had not produced an invitation for Kyiv to join the alliance on a clear timeframe, Wallace’s comments triggered embarrassing headlines and suggestions of discord.
“There is a slight word of caution which is, whether we like it or not, people want to see gratitude,” Wallace told British media on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
“Sometimes you’re persuading countries to give up their own stocks. And yes, the war is a noble war and yes, we see it as you doing a war not just for yourselves but also our freedoms.
“But sometimes you’ve got to persuade lawmakers on the Hill in America,” Wallace said referring to the US Congress.
“You have got to persuade doubting politicians in other countries that it is worth it, it’s worthwhile and they are getting something for it,” he added.
Wallace also recalled that after receiving a list of weapons requests from Ukraine last year, he told officials in Kyiv “I am not Amazon”.
Asked about Wallace’s remarks, Sunak said Zelensky “has expressed his gratitude for what we have done on a number of occasions”.
“Not least in his incredibly moving address that he made to parliament earlier this year and he has done so again to me, as he has done countless times when I have met him,” he told reporters in Vilnius.
– ‘Call him today’ –
“So I know that he and his people are incredibly grateful for the support we have shown, the welcome that we have provided to many Ukrainian families, but also the leadership we have shown throughout this conflict,” Sunak added.
Zelensky was also asked about Wallace’s comments at his summit press conference, and responded in an exasperated tone.
