Former Ukraine army chief Zaluzhny appointed ambassador to UK
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Ukraine hasn't had an ambassador in London since Zelensky fired former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 for criticizing him.
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Ukraine's former army chief Valery Zaluzhnyi attends an event for marking Statehood Day in Mykhailivska Square in Kiev on July 28, 2023 (AP)
According to a proclamation on the Ukrainian presidential website, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has selected former army chief Valery Zaluzhny, who oversaw Ukraine's defense during the first two years of the war with Russia, as the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Ukraine hasn't had an ambassador in London since Zelensky fired former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023.
The dismissal came after Prystaiko criticized Zelensky's response to remarks made by British Defense Minister Ben Wallace regarding Ukraine's gratitude for military aid from its allies. Wallace suggested that Ukraine should show more appreciation for the weapons supplied by the UK.
In response to Wallace's comments, Zelensky expressed his frustration at a NATO summit, stating that he didn't know how else to demonstrate Ukraine's gratitude and humorously suggested waking up every morning to personally express thanks to the British minister.
Read more: EU agrees to utilize revenue from frozen Russian assets to arm Ukraine
Zaluzhnyi is well-known among Ukrainians for heading the army and preparing an abysmal failure of a counteroffensive against Russia.
He was dismissed in February by ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrsky, following combat failures.
Zaluzhny's departure as army chief sparked a shakeup of major ranks in Ukraine's armed services. It came after weeks of tension and rumors about potential disputes between the president and his senior commander.
An anonymous senior Ukrainian military officer in February reported that that criticism toward Zaluzhny was also that he allegedly spends “a lot of time on Facebook showing off how he is doing something."
Zaluzhny’s spokesperson stated when asked if the Pentagon voiced dissatisfaction regarding how he conducted the counteroffensive, that his office was unaware of these concerns.
The tension between Zelensky and the now ex-commander was over increasing manpower losses, the failure of the counteroffensive, and decreasing amounts of weapons and ammunition, Politico revealed.
Corruption has been a longstanding issue in Ukraine and has persisted over several decades but has been particularly exacerbated after the country gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Ukraine army chief admits battlefield situation 'worsened'
Last month,Syrsky acknowledged that Kiev's battlefield position has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east.
In a Facebook post, Syrsky stated, "The situation at the front has worsened," while also recognizing that Russia possesses "a significant advantage in forces and means," allowing them to make advances amid "heavy fighting."
Ukrainian forces have "retreated" to new lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk. Syrsky added, "In some sectors, the enemy had tactical success, and in some areas, our troops managed to improve the tactical position."
This development occurs amidst Russia's ongoing advances in the Donetsk region as Kiev awaits much-needed US weapons and munitions promised earlier this month with the latest approval of an aid package for Kiev.
Despite recent US financial aid approval, Russia's gains have unveiled the urgent need for reinforcement as Ukraine faces increasingly difficult challenges on the front lines.
