Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has caused a debate by blaming the EU and NATO for provoking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022 marked a significant escalation in the conflict, leading to a full-fledged war between Russia and Ukraine. Farage, known for leading the Brexit Party and UK Independence Party, claims that Western attempts to expand NATO and the EU which provoked Russia, resulting in the conflict. He specifically pointed out that the push to include Ukraine in NATO was a major provocation, describing it as “poking the Russian bear.”
Farage admitted that he underestimated Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s actions, and acknowledged that the Russian leader went further than he expected. He linked the escalation to events in 2014, particularly the removal of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, and subsequent Western moves following it.
He urged the US to strengthen its commitment to NATO to prevent more Russian aggression. At the Conservative Political Action Conference, he argued that NATO needs strong American leadership to effectively counter Putin’s ambitions.
Reactions to Farage’s statements have been diverse and mixed. Some critics said that his comments were disgraceful and he is Putin’s apologist who should never be trusted with national security, while others agree with his criticism of NATO’s expansion. This highlights the complexity of international relations and the various opinions on the causes and solutions to the Ukraine conflict.