Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's anti-immigration Reform UK party, faced strong criticism Saturday, June 22, after saying that the West provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Farage said "we've provoked this war," while adding that "of course" it was Russian president Vladimir Putin's "fault."
"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 said. "It's, you know, of course it's his fault – he's used what we've done as an excuse."
His comments met with outrage on Saturday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters that Farage's claim was "completely wrong and only plays into Putin's hands."
"This is a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain, who's doing deals with countries like North Korea," Sunak said. "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 criticized Farage for "echoing Putin's vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine." Former Conservative defense secretary Tobias Ellwood called the comments "shocking" in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, adding that "Churchill will be turning in his grave."
Meanwhile, Labour's shadow defense secretary John Healey called the comments "disgraceful" and said his stance made him "unfit for any political office in our country." He said Farage would "rather lick Vladimir Putin’s boots than stand up for the people of Ukraine."
Probed further on his views on Putin in the interview, Farage said that he "disliked him as a person" but "admired him as a political operator because he's managed to take control of running Russia."
Farage – a former European parliamentarian who has tried and failed to run for Westminster seven times – is gunning for a seat from Clacton in east England in the country's general election next month. His party is currently polling third behind the two major parties, but is only predicted to pick up a few seats. Even so, a surge of popularity for Reform UK since Farage took over as leader earlier this month risks drawing away votes that the Conservative party sorely needs to win a fifth term in power.
Farage has also spoken about his intention to run for prime minister in 2029. He also stood by claims that Sunak, the UK's first prime minister of color, does not "understand our culture," in response to Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations in France early. He clarified in the interview that he meant Sunak was "too upper class." Farage's comments on Sunak – first made in a political leaders debate – had drawn criticism across parties, with one Tory minister saying they made him "very uncomfortable."