VILNIUS (Reuters) – The British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, emphasized the importance of gratitude from Ukraine for weapons donations in order to secure continued support from Western politicians. Speaking at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Wallace warned that Ukraine needed to convince U.S. lawmakers and skeptical politicians in other countries that increased support was warranted. He stressed, “Whether we like it or not, people want to see gratitude.”
London has been a steadfast ally to Kyiv since Russia’s invasion last year, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak affirming that Britain and its allies will further amplify their support for Ukraine. However, Wallace’s comments highlighted the necessity of Ukraine proving its worth to potential allies. He addressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s recent complaints about the absence of a timeline for joining NATO.
Wallace recounted his visit to Ukraine last year, where he was presented with a list of requested weapons. In response to the Ukrainian delegation’s expectations, Wallace asserted, “You know, we’re not Amazon. I told them that last year, when I drove 11 hours to be given a list.”
Zelenskiy modified his tone at the summit, expressing satisfaction with the positive outcomes and news about defense packages from allies, despite the absence of a formal NATO invitation. In light of Wallace’s remarks, Prime Minister Sunak asserted that Zelenskiy had indeed been appreciative of the support received thus far, and assured that further assistance would be provided as necessary. Sunak stated, “We will continue to give him the support that he needs.”
Reporting from Vilnius, Andrew Gray and Kylie MacLellan in London contributed to this article.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
