Ben Wallace moves to clarify jibe on Ukraine treating Nato as ‘Amazon’ for weapons

Ben Wallace has tried to clarify his warning to Ukraine against treating Nato as ‘Amazon’ for weapons – after he dramatically announced he is leaving politics.

The Defence Secretary griped that his controversial remarks had been ‘misinterpreted’ as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv.

Instead he insisted was merely offering advice to Volodymyr Zelensky that to keep popular support in the West the relationship had to be a ‘partnership’ rather than ‘transactional’. 

The feathering came in a string of tweets posted after Mr Wallace confirmed he is stepping down from government at the next reshuffle – and will not stand again at the general election.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace griped that his controversial remarks had been ‘misinterpreted’ as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv

Mr Wallace insisted was merely offering advice to Volodymyr Zelensky that to keep popular support in the West the relationship had to be a ‘partnership’ rather than ‘transactional’

Posting on Twitter in Ukrainian last night, Mr Wallace said his controversial remarks had been ‘misinterpreted’ as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv

Mr Wallace sparked a storm at the Nato summit in Lithuania last week when suggested Mr Zelensky should show more ‘gratitude’ for gifts of kit in order to counter disquiet, particularly in the US, about the costs.

The Ukrainian president voiced bewilderment, stressing that Kyiv is grateful and saying he did not understand the point Mr Wallace was trying to make.

Rishi Sunak also effectively disowned the comments, despite the White House voicing similar sentiments. 

Posting on Twitter in Ukrainian last night, Mr Wallace said: ‘My comments about how best to support Ukraine caused a lot of interest and were somewhat misrepresented.

‘For the record, as someone who has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Ukraine, I have discussed the challenges that may arise as we work towards the common goal of helping Ukraine get what it needs to defeat this illegal invasion.

‘I said that Ukraine sometimes needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.’

He said his remark was not a comment about governments, but ‘more about citizens and members of parliaments’.

‘We are fortunate that the citizens of the United Kingdom and all parties in our parliament support our efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary means,’ he said.

‘Our approval ratings for supporting Ukraine are among the highest in Europe – over 70 per cent.

‘My comments were meant to reflect that it is important to remember not to talk to yourself, but to make an effort to reach out to other citizens who still need to be convinced.’

Mr Wallace also addressed comments when he said the UK was not online delivery service Amazon after being handed a wish list for military supplies.

‘The comments about Amazon were made last year to emphasise that Britain’s relationship with Ukraine is not ‘transactional’ but more ‘partnership’,’ he said.

‘I will personally continue to support Ukraine on its path for as long as it takes, but national parliaments often have competing needs and Ukraine and the UK must continue to encourage this strong support, with facts and friendship.’

Mr Wallace, seen as a darling of the Conservative grass roots and lauded for his response to Russia’s invasion, surprised Westminster by announcing his departure from politics. 

He had been bruised by US President Joe Biden to block him from becoming the next Nato Secretary-General.

Mr Sunak effectively disowned the comments by Mr Wallace, despite the White House voicing similar sentiments

Although his constituency of Wyre and Preston North is being dissolved under boundary changes, Mr Wallace is thought to have turned down the chance to switch to another safe seat.

Downing Street fears that Mr Wallace will be part of a stampede of senior Tory figures quitting politics for the private sector rather than languish on the backbenches in Opposition.

He told the Sunday Times: ‘I’m not standing next time. I went into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. That’s 24 years. I’ve spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed.’ 

Mr Wallace said he told Sunak of his plans to stand down on June 16 and had hoped to make the announcement this summer, but his hand was forced by leaks.

He said he remains supportive of the government and will not be quitting early to trigger another by-election. 

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk