Defence secretary Ben Wallace has been accused of “scolding” the Ukrainians after revealing that he told them Britain was not retail giant Amazon when presented with a list of weapons demands.
In a summit that has revealed cracks between Western leaders and Kyiv, Mr Wallace also said he had advised Ukraine that the international community wanted to see “gratitude” for its support in the war with Russia.
Asked about the row, Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the comments, saying the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly expressed his gratitude. “I think everyone can see that’s how he feels,“ he said.
Britain’s defence secretary and the US national security adviser have suggested Ukraine ought to show more gratitude for the help it has received from the west, in response to Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s complaints that his country has not been issued a firm timetable or set of conditions for joining Nato.
In a move widely seen as a way to soften the blow over Nato, the G7 announced a new framework for Ukraine’s long-term security, marking the first time many of its members have agreed such an arrangement with another country.
The summit also held the first meeting of the Nato-Ukraine council, a new forum designed to deepen ties with the war-torn country.
Wallace insisted Ukraine has achieved a great milestone at this summit by getting a clear statement from the alliance that Kyiv’s rightful place is in NATO.
“The win here for Ukraine is the sort of cultural acceptance that Ukraine belongs to NATO,” he said. “The word ‘belongs’ implies fate, implies it is going to happen. It is not an if, it is a when.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vented his disappointment with the wording of the summit communiqué, published Tuesday evening, which stated NATO would be “in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.”
G7 countries will also seek to make the war as costly as possible for Russia, including through sanctions and export controls, as well as holding those who carry out war crimes responsible.
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