The office of Ukrainian President Zelensky has insinuated that Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has been tainted by the "virus of Putinism."
This comes in response to Farage's recent comments suggesting that the West is responsible for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to the Daily Mail, the remarks have drawn widespread criticism, with Rishi Sunak, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, stating that Farage's words were 'completely wrong and only play into Putin's hands.'
In a recent interview for the BBC's Panorama election specials, Farage was taken to task by presenter Nick Robinson. Farage maintained that the eastward 'expansion' of the Western alliance and political bloc had 'given a reason' for Russian President Putin to launch an attack. Farage also expressed his 'admiration' for Putin as a 'political operator,' while clarifying that he disliked Putin as an individual.
A source from President Zelensky's office, while not officially commenting, told the BBC, 'The virus of Putinism, unfortunately, infects people.' Sunak echoed this sentiment, stating, '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 appeasement 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 Farage of 'echoing Putin's vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.' This sentiment was shared by Guy Verhofstadt, a prominent Belgian MEP, who accused Farage of parroting 'Kremlin talking points.' Verhofstadt stated, 'In the European Parliament, Farage always defended Putin. Every vote for Farage is celebrated in Moscow!'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer labeled Farage's comments as 'disgraceful,' asserting that anyone running for Parliament should unequivocally identify Russia as the aggressor. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey echoed this sentiment, stating, '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.'
Despite the backlash, Farage stood by his comments, posting 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.'
This controversy coincides with President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement that Ukraine has reached 'a significant milestone' on their path toward EU membership. Zelensky stated, 'These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe.'
Farage's comments have also drawn criticism from former Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson, who accused the Reform UK leader of 'parroting the Kremlin Line' and 'producing new excuses for the brutal, unprovoked attack.' Lord Robertson refuted Farage's claim that the Ukrainian conflict was caused by the expansion of the EU, describing such assertions as 'complete nonsense.'
Retired British Army Officer Richard Kemp also criticized Farage's analysis of the cause of the Ukrainian conflict, stating, 'He claims that Nato and EU expansion was provocative. In fact, it was Western weakness and timidity that encouraged Putin's aggression in 2022.' Kemp added that Farage's comments had just proven that he is 'not a serious leader.'
Labour shadow defence secretary John Healy accused Farage of preferring to 'lick Vladimir Putin's boots than stand up for the people of Ukraine.' Healy 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.'
Farage's comments have highlighted 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 prevent the insurgents from splitting the right-wing vote on July 4 and handing Keir Starmer the keys to No10, recently helped negotiate a new 39billion international package to bolster Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression.
In the Panorama interview, Farage was challenged by Robinson regarding his social media post in February 2022, where he stated that 'it was a consequence of EU and NATO expansion.' Farage responded, '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.'
Farage's controversial comments and the ensuing backlash underscore the complexity of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the differing viewpoints within the UK's political landscape. As the situation continues to evolve, the debate over responsibility and appropriate responses will undoubtedly persist.
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