The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, has said Russia must pay to rebuild Ukraine following the ongoing war there.

Prystaiko, who has served in the role since 2020, said that “western taxpayers should not pay” to rebuild the country as extensive damage to it continues to unfold.

He argued that it was the responsibility of Russia, who launched a bloody invasion of its neighbour in February, to invest in repairs once the conflict concludes.

He made these remarks during a Q&A at the “Defence of Europe “ conference hosted by Reaction magazine and the King’s College London War Studies department in central London this afternoon.