Farage blasted for 'echoing Putin's justification' for Ukraine war (2024)

President Zelensky's office has suggested that Nigel Farage has been 'infected by the virus of Putinism' after he said the West was to blame for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It comes as Rishi Sunak said today that Mr Farage's comments were 'completely wrong and only play into Putin's hands'.

The Reform UK leader has been blasted by politicians and army veterans for 'echoing Putin's vile justification' for the conflict inan interview for the BBC's Panorama electionspecials.

Grilled by presenter Nick Robinson, Mr Farage insisted the eastward 'expansion' of the Western alliance and political bloc had 'given a reason' for the Russian president to attack.

The Reform UK leader also spoke of his 'admiration' for Putin as a 'political operator' but insisted he disliked the Russian leader as a person.

Although there has been no official reaction from Kyiv, a source from President Zelensky's office told the BBC: 'The virus of Putinism, unfortunately, infects people.'

Mr Sunak said: 'What he said was completely wrong and only plays into Putin's hands.

'This is a man (Mr Putin) who deployed nerve agent on the streets of Britain, who is doing deals with countries like North Korea, and this kind of appeasem*nt is dangerous for Britain's security, the security of our allies that rely on us, and only emboldens Putin further.'

Home Secretary James Cleverly accused Mr Farage last night of 'echoing Putin's vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine'.

He was also criticised by Guy Verhofstadt, a prominent Belgian MEP, who said Farage was repeating 'Kremlin talking points'.

'In the European Parliament, Farage always defended Putin', he said.

'Every vote for Farage is celebrated in Moscow!'

Labour leader Sir Keir called the remarks 'disgraceful' and said anyone standing for Parliament should make clear Russia is the aggressor.

And Lib Dem leader Ed Davey told broadcasters on a visit to south east England: 'It is Putin and Russia who are to blame for this, no one else.

'I strongly support the efforts that Britain has made to support Ukrainians. I wish we had done more actually, and I think British people would be shocked if we do anything else.'

Mr Farage, however, doubled down on his comments last night as he posted on X: 'I am one of the few figures that have been consistent and honest about the war with Russia.

'Putin was wrong to invade a sovereign nation, and the EU was wrong to expand eastward.

'The sooner we realise this, the closer we will be to ending the war and delivering peace.'

The row comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night that his country had marked 'a significant milestone' on their path toward EU membership as a negotiating framework was approved.

Zelensky said: 'These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe.'

Former Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson further criticised the Reform UK leader for 'parroting the Kremlin Line' and 'producing new excuses for the brutal, unprovoked attack'.

Mr Farage claimed during the interview thatLord Robertson had agreed the Ukrainian conflict was caused by the expansion of the EU.

But speaking to BBC Radio 4,the Labour peer refuted Mr Farage's comments, describing themas 'complete nonsense'.

'Saying that we provoked Russia is like saying that if you buy a burglar alarm, in some way you provoke burglars', Lord Robertson said.

Retired British Army Officer Richard Kemp said that Farage's analysis of the cause of the Ukrainian conflict could 'hardly be more wrong'.

He wrote in the Telegraph: 'He claims that Nato and EU expansion was provocative.

'In fact it was Western weakness and timidity that encouraged Putin's aggression in 2022.'

Mr Kemp added that Farage's comments had just proven that he is 'not a serious leader'.

Labour shadow defence secretary John Healy said Mr Farage would 'rather lick Vladimir Putin's boots than stand up for the people of Ukraine' and added: 'These are disgraceful comments, which reveal the true face of Nigel Farage: a Putin apologist who should never be trusted with our nation's security.

'Up until now, there has been a united front amongst Britain's political leaders in supporting the people of Ukraine against the unprovoked and unjustifiable assault they have suffered at the hands of Vladimir Putin.'

Former defence minister Tobias Ellwood told the Daily Telegraph: 'Churchill will be turning in his grave.

'Putin, already enjoying how Farage is disrupting British politics, will be delighted to hear this talk of appeasem*nt during our election debate.'

Mr Farage's comments indicate a clear divide between Reform and the Tories over the Ukrainian conflict and how to handle the rising threat from states like Russia and China.

Rishi Sunak - who is scrambling to stop the insurgents splitting the right-wing vote on July 4 and gifting Keir Starmer the keys to No10 - recently helped negotiate a new £39billion international package boosting Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression.

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss also staunchly supported Volodymyr Zelensky with weaponry and other aid.

Mr Farage claimed earlier this month that Ukraine will eventually have to seek a peace deal with Russia - but his comments on Panorama last night go further.

In the Panorama interview, Mr Farage was challenged by Robinson that in February 2022, as the latest intense phase of the invasion began, he posted on social media that 'it was a consequence of EU and NATO expansion'.

Mr Farage replied: 'I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, ''there will be a war in Ukraine''.

'Why did I say that? it was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say, ''They're coming for us again'', and to go to war.'

Pressed on whether he stood by that assessment, Mr Farage said 'we provoked this war'.

'It's – you know, of course it's his fault, he's used what we've done as an excuse,' he said.

Braced again on whether he believed the West had 'provoked' the invasion, Mr Farage said: 'Yes, and very interestingly, once again, 10 years ago when I predicted this – by the way, I'm the only person in British politics that predicted what would happen - and of course everyone said I was a pariah for daring to suggest it.'

He added: 'My judgement has been way ahead of everybody else's in understanding this.'

Mr Farage denied that he was 'echoing' Putin's rhetoric about Russia being threatened by the West, claiming he had 'been saying this actually since the 1990s, ever since, before the war'.

Asked if Reform backed the idea of continuing to fund Ukraine's efforts, Mr Farage said: 'We would go on ­sending money to them but I think both sides need to be told that at some point wars either end in negotiation or catastrophe, and this one looks like going on for many, many, many years – and at an horrendous cost of life.

'At some point there have to be face-to-face talks.

'I'm not suggesting that it'll happen quickly, but at some point that's what we'd like to see.'

Pressed on whether that would mean Ukraine having to give up land, he appeared not to rule it out, adding: 'The tough negotiation has to be over Crimea. That is clearly going to be very tough.'

Mr Farage predicted that if Donald Trump was re-elected US president this year then Ukraine premier Volodymyr Zelensky could soon be forced around the table with Vladimir Putin.

The Panorama Interview with Nick Robinson is available on BBC iPlayer