Nigel Farage has ignited a political firestorm after making controversial comments defending Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and calling for a fundamental rethink of NATO expansion.
The Reform UK leader told the BBC's Nick Robinson that the West "provoked" Russia's full-scale invasion through its foreign policy decisions, drawing immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Explosive Claims on Putin's Motivations
In a remarkable defence of the Russian president, Farage stated: "He [Putin] used, as his excuse, the expansion of NATO. Now, I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and said 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... to say: 'They're coming for us again,' and to go to war."
When pressed by Robinson on whether he believed Putin was justified in invading a sovereign nation, Farage doubled down on his position, arguing that Western leaders had failed to understand Russian security concerns.
Political Backlash and Condemnation
The comments triggered immediate backlash from both Conservative and Labour figures. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps led the criticism, calling Farage's remarks "disgraceful" and suggesting they demonstrated why the Reform UK leader was "not fit for office."
Shapps told Times Radio: "This is a man who has form for defending the indefensible, whether it's standing up for [Vladimir] Putin, whether it's his views on [former Nazi leader] Adolf Hitler... I think it tells you everything you need to know about Nigel Farage."
NATO Expansion Under Scrutiny
Farage's intervention comes at a sensitive time for Western unity on Ukraine, with debates emerging about the future of NATO expansion and long-term strategy towards Russia.
The Reform UK leader argued that the West should have created a "buffer zone" between NATO and Russia rather than pursuing further expansion eastward. His comments represent the most significant mainstream British political voice questioning the fundamental assumptions of Western policy towards Russia since the invasion began.
Impact on Reform UK's Election Campaign
The timing of Farage's remarks could prove particularly damaging as Reform UK seeks to position itself as a credible alternative to the Conservative Party. With defence and security expected to be key election issues, Farage's Putin comments may alienate voters who view strong support for Ukraine as non-negotiable.
Political analysts suggest the controversy could undermine Reform UK's attempts to present itself as a serious governing alternative, instead reinforcing criticisms that the party remains on the fringes of acceptable political discourse.
