The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has been accused of "snubbing" Ukrainian officials when they came to the UK to discuss sending non-compliant Ulez vehicles to Ukraine.
A team of delegates from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv had visited Britain earlier this month for talks on the scheme, which sees cars that fail to meet Ulez emissions standards sent to the embattled country for use delivering aid to the front lines.
But the team, who work for Kyiv's mayor - and ex-boxer - Vitali Klitschko, was denied a meeting with Khan due to purdah rules in place ahead of the local elections on May 2.
The delegation was instead granted an audience with Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Communities Secretary Michael Gove, the latter of whom helped start the scheme after attempts by the Mayor to block it.
Delegates from Ukraine had allegedly been turned down owing to purdah restrictions in place before the mayoral election in May
PA
It is understood that the Mayor's team had been aware that the delegation was set to visit London to promote the scrappage scheme - but they said they had not been invited to the meeting with ministers and Ukrainian representatives on May 2.
Since March 15, over 100 vehicles have been donated to Ukraine through the scheme - 20 of which arrived in the embattled country just this weekend.
Richard Lofthouse, who volunteers with the Cars for Ukraine scheme, said: "It just seems incredible that after making so much public statement about his close relationships with Kyiv, and despite having never taken up an invitation by Mayor Klitschko to visit, that when Kyiv then sends its own delegation to London they are snubbed by Mayor Khan's office.
"There are purdah rules about publicity that everyone knows about, but not to even lay on a private cup of tea?", he continued, speaking to the Telegraph.
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The delegation had visited London on behalf of the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko
GB News
Vehicles sent to Ukraine through the scheme must be used for humanitarian purposes like aid provision or evacuating civilians - while Londoners who donate their non-compliant cars can claim money back from Transport for London (TfL).
A British-Ukrainian Aid (BUAID) spokesman said: "We remain enormously grateful for the support given to us by the mayors of London and Kyiv and by our many partners, supporters and donors.
"Vehicles that would have gone to scrap are saving lives in Ukraine, and we know that every one of them is valued and valuable.
"It is great to see people showing the Dunkirk spirit that Churchill talked about in World War Two, making transport available to those under threat from a ruthless enemy."
The team from Kyiv did, however, meet Transport Secretary Mark Harper (left) and Communities Secretary Michael Gove
PA
The Mayor of London's office told GB News: "Since the mayor amended the Ulez scrappage scheme to enable Londoners to donate non-compliant vehicles to Ukraine, more than 100 vehicles have been donated.
"This past weekend a convoy of 20 vehicles was delivered to Ukraine, bringing the total number of vehicles in the county to 55.
"Thirteen more vehicles are on the way.
"This scheme enables Londoners to donate non-compliant vehicles to help with vital medical and humanitarian work, while also helping to remove old, polluting vehicles from London’s roads, creating a greener London for all."
