In an extraordinary snub to Ukraine’s repeated requests for more weapons to fight Russia, the British defense secretary stated that the West is not an “Amazon” delivery service for weapons shipment to Ukraine.
Ben Wallace argued that Kyiv needed to express its gratitude to the West for its weapons donations and to persuade some skeptics among the politicians in Washington and other major cities that the tens of billions of dollars in military aid that the West is giving to the country for its conflict with Russia are worthwhile.
On the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Wallace told British media, “You have to persuade doubting politicians in other countries that it is worth it, it’s worthwhile, and they are getting something for it.
read more: Israel-Ukraine ties worsen over fear of suppling weapon to Kyiv
Wallace recalled saying, “I am not Amazon,” in response to Kyiv officials after receiving a list of weapons requests from Ukraine last year.”
At his summit press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was questioned about Wallace’s remarks and gave a frustrated response.
“I think the UK has always been appreciative of us. We are always appreciative of the defense minister and the prime minister”, he told reporters.
Tens of billions of dollars worth of military hardware have already been given to or promised to be given to Kyiv by Western nations.
Ukraine has frequently requested more military aid, particularly long-range weapons. The past few months have seen repeated requests from Kyiv for NATO membership.
At the NATO summit on Wednesday, the US and its allies announced fresh security guarantees for Ukraine and pledged to provide “enduring” military assistance to assist Ukraine in the conflict.
The promise was made just one day after Zelensky criticized as “absurd” the lack of an invitation or timeline for Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
Russia has reacted angrily to the West’s backing of Ukraine, claiming that it poses an existential threat to its security with NATO’s eastward expansion.
The West providing Ukraine with security guarantees, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, is “potentially very dangerous.”
A third world war is rapidly approaching, according to Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council.
