Nigel Farage under fire for provocative comments
Nigel Farage has stirred controversy by suggesting that the West provoked Vladimir Putin into invading Ukraine, citing the expansion of NATO and the European Union eastwards as contributing factors. The Reform UK boss faced backlash for his remarks, with critics branding him an appeaser and accusing him of echoing Kremlin talking points.
Defence Secretary slams Farage's comments
Ex-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace condemned Farage's remarks, stating that the blame for the conflict lies with Putin and criticizing Farage for his perceived admiration of the Russian leader. Wallace accused Farage of disregarding Putin's actions, including the use of nerve agents on British soil, and likened him to Neville Chamberlain.
Farage defends his stance
In response to the backlash, Farage defended his position, maintaining that the West's expansion eastwards had provided Putin with a pretext for aggression. He cited his past warnings about the dangers of NATO and EU expansion and reiterated his belief that the West had played a role in provoking the war.
Farage's prediction
Farage highlighted his past prediction of a conflict in Ukraine, attributing it to his understanding of the implications of NATO and EU expansion. He emphasized that his foresight had been dismissed by others in British politics, but recent comments from figures such as George Robertson have supported his perspective on the war's origins.
