By Fatma Younis
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said in a 2022 interview that he “understood” why Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea, describing Putin as a “rational player” at the time.
Farage’s 2022 comments resurface
The remarks, made in a YouTube video titled “What does the war in Ukraine mean for Bitcoin?” days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, were first reported by The Times. Farage said Putin acted because Crimea and parts of the Donbas region were “Russian-speaking communities” that “would rather be part of a greater Russia than part of somewhere else.” He added that he did not think Putin would launch an all-out assault on Kyiv and western Ukraine, but the invasion made him question whether Putin remained a rational actor.
Farage later says Putin lost rationality
After The Times report, Farage told The Independent: “I think Putin has lost all rationality and poses a great danger to the world. Ukraine has my full support.”
Ukrainian official criticizes remarks
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign policy committee, described Farage’s comments as “very disturbing.” He said the argument that Russian-speaking areas should join Russia was absurd and warned that if Farage became prime minister it would not bode well for Ukraine, international law, or transatlantic solidarity.
Background on Crimea annexation
Russia illegally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014, a move recognized internationally only by countries such as North Korea and Sudan. Crimea had been part of Ukraine for 60 years. The annexation led to sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other nations.
Reform UK responds
A Reform UK spokesperson said Farage would support shooting down Russian fighter jets entering NATO airspace, would use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, and might deploy British troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force after a ceasefire. The spokesperson added that Farage’s support for Ukraine is clear.
Concerns about Farage’s attitude toward Russia follow the imprisonment of former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill for taking a Russian bribe. Farage has previously said he “admires” Putin.
