Ukraine's ambassador to Britain demanded a “simplified” process for refugees fleeing to the UK - and revealed his own wife struggled to get a visa prior to the Russia conflict.
Vadym Prystaiko called for an end to the “bureaucratic” processes which are hampering asylum seekers’ attempts to flee to Britain.
Just 760 visas have been granted to Ukrainians, with more than two million people having fled their homeland.
Giving evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Prystaiko called for visa processing to be speeded-up.
He told MPs: “To cover this situation, when people are unfortunately stuck on the border between Ukraine and neighbouring states, we do understand that security checks must be thorough, especially at the time of military conflict, but we also believe some bureaucratic procedures could be lessened a bit - simplified.”
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He admitted opening routes was a “sensitive issue”, and that most Ukrainians seeking sanctuary would prefer to go to other “Slavic tribes” in the region.
But he called for the UK’s visa requirement to be lifted, to help more Ukrainian refugees reach Britain.
Admitting it was “very sensitive”, he said: "That would definitely resolve all the issues, but how reasonable, how justified it is with your own system, that's frankly for you to decide.
"We will be happy if all the barriers are dropped for some period of time when we can get maximum (numbers) of people, then we will deal with that.”
His embassy officials would help deal with refugees if visa rules were lifted.
He told MPs: "If you can vote for some temporary releasing of us from these rules, to allow people to get here, we will take care of (them).
"I don't expect many of them to come. I don't want to see these pictures of people banging at the doors in Calais and scratching the doors which are quite sealed."
Mr Prystaiko, who has been his country’s top diplomat in Britain since July 2020, said obtaining visas to the UK was “always bureaucratic hassle” - even before Russia invaded.
He also told how his wife was initially denied a visa when he was appointed his country’s envoy to Britain.
“When I was coming here as ambassador, I got my visa on time - although I was already approved by your Government, my wife didn’t have it,” he revealed.
“Even simple things like that - your bureaucracy is so tough.”
The diplomat said Ukraine was "happy" the UK had offered to extend visas of Ukrainians already in Britain and for the "reunification of the families".
But he added: “What we are now coming to is the most sensitive issue, which is how there (could be) more possibilities for people who have no connections to UK citizens and now want to come here.
"I want to tell you straight away that the natural place for Ukrainians is close to most of our Slavic tribe, if I can put it like that - independent nations like Poland and Slovakia, where people do not have any language barrier.
"Most Ukrainians will naturally stay close to their homes, to their roots, because families are unfortunately split - the elderly, the women with kids, fled Ukraine when most of the men and women are fighting back home."
Mr Prystaiko said he did not believe "people will stay long enough to really be placed and rooted here", but welcomed the offer of NHS treatment for people coming to the UK.
He said Ukrainians did not want to be a "burden" on the UK system, adding: "Most of these people are well educated and have their own business ideas - most of them are in professions which can be done remotely, like IT."
