- Defense Secretary’s Call for Gratitude: UK urges Ukraine to show appreciation for military aid
- Ukrainian President’s Perplexity: Zelenskyy responds to the defense secretary’s comments
- PM Disagrees with Defense Secretary: Sunak asserts Ukraine’s gratitude for UK support
The minister stated that “whether we like it or not, people want to see gratitude” for the armaments sent to Ukraine, adding that Kyiv must “convince skeptic politicians in other nations that it’s worth it.”
The United Kingdom is not an “Amazon” delivery service for weapons to Ukraine, and Kyiv would do well to allow its supporters to “see gratitude,” according to the British defense secretary.
Ben Wallace stated bluntly that his “advice” to the Ukrainians was to keep in mind that they must convince some skeptics in Washington and other capitals that the tens of billions of pounds being spent on military aid for the country’s war with Russia is worthwhile.
Later, Mr. Zelenskyy revealed that he was perplexed by what the defense secretary said, adding, “We were always grateful.”
The Ukrainian president stated, “I had no idea what he meant, nor how else to express my gratitude.”
He added jokingly, “We could get up in the morning and personally convey our gratitude to the minister. We are appreciative to the United Kingdom.”
Mr. Wallace previously stated that he did not believe NATO splits would affect the morale of Ukrainian forces. After receiving the latest arms supply, Ukraine still wants more.
Mr. Wallace stated in a briefing to journalists on the margins of the two-day NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, “There is a word of caution here, which is that whether we like it or not, people want to see gratitude.”
“My advice to the Ukrainians is that sometimes you’re persuading countries to give up their stocks [of weapons], and yes, the conflict is a noble one, and yes, we see it as you fighting for our freedoms, not just your own.
“However, sometimes it’s necessary to convince legislators on Capitol Hill in the United States and skeptic politicians in other nations that it’s worth it and that they’re gaining something in return.
And whether you like it or not, that is the reality of the situation.
Mr. Wallace stated that it is not uncommon to hear “grumbles” from American legislators – not the administration – that “we’ve given $83 billion or whatever and we’re not Amazon.”
In June of last year, the defence secretary told the Ukrainians that the UK was not an online arms dealer.
“Last year, when I drove 11 hours to [Kyiv] to receive a list, I told the Ukrainians that I am not Amazon,” I said.
In addition, he stated that he warned them that if they did not provide better training for their soldiers. They would risk losing political support if they suffered such a high weekly rate of casualties.
He instead proposed a training program in the United Kingdom.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pushed back against the defense secretary’s remarks. Stating that Mr. Zelenskyy had “on multiple occasions expressed his gratitude for what we’ve done.”
The prime minister added, “Not least in his incredibly moving address to parliament earlier this year.”
He’s done so again, as he’s done countless times when I’ve met him, so I know he and his people are incredibly grateful for the support the UK has shown, the welcome that we’ve provided to many Ukrainian families, and the leadership that we’ve shown throughout this conflict – often being the first to move support forward with the provision of tanks and long-range weapons,” he said.
“Every single day, people throughout Ukraine fight for their lives and freedom, and they pay a terrible price for it. So I completely comprehend Volodymyr’s desire to do everything he can to protect his people and end this conflict.
We will continue to provide him with the necessary assistance.
