LONDON — British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated Sunday he plans to resign on the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle after 4 years within the job.

Wallace has served as protection secretary underneath three prime ministers and performed a key function within the U.Okay.’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He informed The Sunday Times his departure was because of the pressure his job had placed on his household. He additionally stated he would stand down as a lawmaker on the subsequent common election.

Wallace is the longest-continuously serving minister in authorities. He was safety minister underneath former Prime Minister Theresa May, earlier than being promoted to protection secretary by her successor Boris Johnson.

Wallace drew criticism final week when he steered that Ukraine ought to present “gratitude” for the West’s navy help. He made the comment on the NATO summit in Lithuania after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration about when his nation may be a part of the navy alliance.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallace’s feedback, saying Zelenskyy had “expressed his gratitude for what we’ve done on a number of occasions.”

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