Ukraine names former commander-in-chief as new ambassador to UK
First Published: 8th March, 2024 11:52 IST
Ukraine has not had an ambassador in the UK since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 after he publicly criticised the leader
A month after Valerii Zaluzhnyi was ousted as the nation’s top military commander, Ukraine has named him as the new envoy to the United Kingdom, reported Al Jazeera.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sent a request to the British side for an agreement,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Ukraine has not had an ambassador in the UK since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 after he publicly criticised the leader.
Since the beginning of the war with Russia, Zaluzhnyi had commanded the Ukrainian army, which in the early going had successfully repelled an invasion force that was far more formidable.
Zaluzhnyi, who the Ukrainian media dubbed the “Iron General,” came to represent the nation’s resistance and had very high popular approval ratings, according to Al Jazeera.
However, the collapse of a highly acclaimed counteroffensive in the previous summer and a public disagreement with Zelenskyy damaged his standing in the president’s office.
Oleksandr Syrskii, who oversaw Ukraine’s fast autumn 2022 counteroffensive in the northern Kharkiv region, took over in February.
Zelenskyy took to X after Zaluzhnyi was fired to express gratitude to the military chief for his two years of service and to declared then that it was time for the military leadership to change.
After almost two years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that the country’s military approach “must change,” according to Al Jazeera.
Notably, Zaluzhnyi’s appointment as the new envoy to UK has come at a time when UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps travelled to Kyiv on Thursday.
“We prioritized strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and long-range capabilities, in addition to fulfilling other pressing requirements for armaments and ammunition and advancing cooperative weapon manufacturing,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.
Following the meeting, the UK Ministry of Defense said that it will provide over 10,000 drones to Ukraine to support its counteroffensive against Russia. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Brother of BSF Jawan Deepak Chingakham Who Died in Cross-Border Firing by Pakistan in Jammu Appointed ASI in Manipur Police on Compassionate Grounds
11th July 2025
Live Maikhuli Villagers Protest MoU Over Assam-Meghalaya Border, Demand Return of Fishery
11th July 2025
Live Chhangur Baba Received Rs 500 Crore in Foreign Funds for Illegal Conversions: Anti-Terror Squad
11th July 2025
Live Taiwan Detects 9 Chinese Warships, 1 Aircraft Breaching ADIZ Amid Rising Tensions
11th July 2025
WE RECOMMEND
Space Menu Goes Desi: Gajar Ka Halwa Wins Over International Astronauts
The sweet surprise, specially developed for space consumption by ISRO and DRDO, was the centrepiece of a lively gathering aboard Axiom Mission 4.
11th July 2025
“Show Me One Photo of Collateral Damage in OP Sindoor, Operation precise to the point,” NSA, Ajit Doval Dares Foreign Media
National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval on Friday dismissed foreign media reports of collateral damage in India during Operation Sindoor. Hailing Operation Sindoor as a proud moment for India, Doval challenged critics to produce even a single image of destruction of Indian property. Speaking at the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras, Doval said “Show me even […]
11th July 2025
From Moradabad to Apple HQ: Meet Sabih Khan, the New COO of the iPhone Giant
At Apple, he steadily climbed the ranks and most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Operations.
11th July 2025
Axiom-4 crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, scheduled to undock from ISS on July 14
Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A
11th July 2025
Trump announces 35 per cent tariffs on goods imported from Canada
Trump threatened to increase the tariff rate by the same amount if Canada decides to increase their tariffs on importing American products.
11th July 2025