KYIV, July 21 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain on Friday.

A presidential order gave no reason for the dismissal but said Prystaiko had also been removed as Ukraine’s representative to the International Maritime Organization. Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion last year.

Prystaiko was reportedly dismissed after publicly criticising the president’s response to a row over gratitude for British military aid.

He had called Mr Zelensky’s promise to thank the UK defence minister every morning “unhealthy sarcasm”.Kyiv gave no official reason for the dismissal but confirmed that Mr Prystaiko was no longer the ambassador.

Earlier this month, Ben Wallace said he warned Ukraine that its allies were “not Amazon”, saying Kyiv needed to show gratitude for weapons it received in order to persuade Western politicians to give more.He was speaking at the Nato summit after President Zelensky criticised the military alliance for delays in making Ukraine a member.

“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,” Mr Zelensky said of the defence minister’s comments.

Mr Prystaiko told Sky News there was a “little bit of sarcasm” in his president’s response, which he believed was “unhealthy”.”We’re not expecting anybody to fight for us, we only ask for equipment,” he said, adding “Ben can call me and tell me anything he wants”.

Photo: Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain