Rishi slaps down Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as he tells Zelensky ‘you belong in Nato’

Rishi Sunak has delivered a blunt slap down of Ben Wallace after the Defence Secretary appeared to criticise Ukraine’s demand for support and supplies.

Mr Wallace said that Ukraine needs to show “gratitude” to the West for its support, and can’t believe NATO members are merely an “Amazon” delivery service for the wartorn country.

He said: “Sometimes you would hear grumbles not from the administration in the American system, but you would hear them from lawmakers on the Hill … ‘We’ve given $83 billion worth or whatever, we are not Amazon,’”

“There’s a slight word of caution here which is, whether you like it or not people want to see gratitude,”

Asked about his Defence Secretary’s comments, Rishi Sunak said President Zelensky has expressed his gratitude for what the UK and its allies have done for Ukraine.

“Not least in his incredibly moving address which he made to Parliament earlier this year, and he’s done so again to me as he has done countless of times when we’ve met him.

“So I know him and his people are incredibly grateful for the support the UK has shown, the welcome we’ve provided to many Ukranian families and the leadership we’ve shown throughout this conflict.”

“There’s a slight word of caution here which is, whether you like it or not people want to see gratitude,”

Mr Sunak also pointed out: “People across Ukraine are also fighting for their lives and freedom every single day, and they’re paying a terrible price for it.”

“So I completely understand Volodymyr’s desire to do everything he can to protect his people and to stop this war.”

Mr Sunak used his speech to say the British public should be proud of the support we’re giving to Ukraine and our leading role with the defence pact.

He reiterated the UK’s position that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO”, adding this week has seen a big step forward towards bringing the Eastern European country into the alliance.

The summit was also busier than usual, thanks to the recent accession of Finland.

The Prime Minister excitedly added that Sweden will soon be doing the same.

“We are stronger with them by our side, and in time we will be stronger with Ukraine as a NATO ally too.”

He said this week’s commitments to Ukraine by NATO – including long-term security commitments – “mark a new high point in international support for Ukraine”.

However Mr Sunak warned that the new support is “not a substitute for NATO membership”, and that this week has “shortened their path” to joining, by removing the need for a Membership Action Plan and reducing the application process from two steps to one.

The Prime Minister reiterated Britain’s key role in the organisation, pointing out the UK was one of the first to hit the 2 percent defence spending target, as well as one of the “only countries that contributes to every NATO mission with RAF jets patrolling the eastern flank”.

“Troops on the ground in Estonia and Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence, and the Royal Navy, including our two aircraft carriers, providing around a quarter of NATO’s maritime capability.

“It’s about our deep partnerships. With Japan and Italy we’re producing a sixth-generation fighter through our Global Combat Air Programme, and with AUKUS, we’re working with Australia and the US to build some of the most advanced nuclear-powered submarines the world has ever known.”