MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. The Ukrainian authorities have committed a break of diplomatic etiquette as they announced the approval of ex-Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny as ambassador to the UK by President Vladimir Zelensky beforehand, the Zerkalo Nedeli publication reported.

"No one has ever made any statements on direction of agrement - the request for the country’s approval to provide all diplomatic privileges and rights to the new ambassador over the entire history of the foreign ministry. Such a statement breaks the diplomatic etiquette, all written and unwritten diplomacy rules. Even if nonpublic consultations and approvals between the parties are already over," the publication said.

Zelensky’s office led Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba to take this unprecedented step, according to the report. "Obviously the presidential entourage was afraid that Zaluzhny could change his mind. Moreover, we have no foreign minister that can tell the president that it is improper," Zerkalo Nedeli said.

On February 8, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky removed Zaluzhny from the post of the commander-in-chief, pointing to stagnation on the frontline and the need for a reshuffle of the top brass. Later the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Zelensky had agreed Zaluzhny's candidacy for the post of ambassador to Britain.