The Reform UK leader said that the “ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union” gave Vladimir Putin a reason to justify war.
The comments in aBBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson echo arguments made by Donald Trump,the former US president and friend of Farage.
Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage is interviewed on BBC Panorama.BBC via Getty Images
Farage was asked why he had “blamed the West” for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
He said:“Right,I’ll tell you what you don’t know,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 his rhetoric was echoing that of the Russian president,Farage said:“But,hang on a second,we provoked this war. It’s – you know,of course it’s his fault,he’s used what we’ve done as an excuse.”
Asked if he was saying the West “provoked the invasion of Ukraine”,Farage responded:“Yes.”
He added:“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.
“George Robertson,former Labour cabinet minister,who went on to become the secretary general of NATO,has in the last couple of weeks said the war is a direct result of the EU expansion.”
The comments are a marked difference from those given by other UK political leaders on the conflict,who have sided overwhelmingly with NATO and Ukraine.
Also in the interview,Farage added that vetting blunders with candidates standing for Reform were in part that before his leadership,the party was “desperate” for people to stand.
A backlash to Farage’s remarks on Ukraine was emerging on Friday night.
Tobias Ellwood,the former Tory defence minister,toldThe Telegraph:“This is a shocking statement by Farage. A sovereign state was illegally invaded and Farage blames the West. Churchill will be turning in his grave.
UK politician Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown in his face after his election campaign launch.
“Putin,already enjoying how Farage is disrupting British politics,will be delighted to hear this talk of appeasement entering our election debate. It shows how Reform could never be trusted with British foreign policy. And why Farage can never lead the Conservatives.”
Lord West of Spithead,the former chief of the naval staff,added:“Anyone who gives any seeming excuse to President Putin and his disgraceful attack on an independent country is standing into danger as regards their views on world affairs.”
James Cleverly,the Home Secretary,posted on X:“Just Farage echoing Putin’s vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.”
Liam Fox,the former Tory defence secretary,said:“The West did not ‘provoke this war’ in Ukraine and it is shocking that Nigel Farage should say so.
“Sovereign nations have a right to defend themselves and organise their security in a way that they choose. We need unequivocal military and moral support for the people of Ukraine,not Kremlin apologists.”
A Labour spokesman said:“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 among 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.
“Nigel Farage has put himself outside that united position,and shown that he would rather lick Vladimir Putin’s boots than stand up for the people of Ukraine. That makes him unfit for any political office in our country,let alone leading a serious party in parliament.”
Farage has fronted Reform’s election campaign following his surprise decision to take over the party leadership and run to become the MP for Clacton earlier this month.
Another opinion poll on Friday night put Farage’s party just ahead of the Tories,with Whitestone Insight finding Reform was on 20 per cent of the vote share and the Conservatives on 19 per cent.
Telegraph,London
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