In a surprising move, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has publicly disagreed with his longtime ally, former US President Donald Trump, over the war in Ukraine and the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking in Washington, Farage made it clear that he holds Russia responsible for the invasion and defended Zelenskyy against Trump’s recent criticisms.
“Russia is to blame for the invasion. Of that, there is no doubt,” Farage stated firmly. While acknowledging that “geo-political mistakes” were made in the lead-up to the war, he emphasized, “It’s Putin that invaded. It’s him that’s behaved badly.”
Farage’s comments come after Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections” due to the postponement of Ukraine’s 2024 elections amid the ongoing conflict. Trump also controversially claimed that Ukraine was to blame for the war, telling Zelenskyy, “You should have never started it.” Farage, however, pushed back on these claims, saying, “Let’s be clear. Zelensky is not a dictator.”
While Farage agreed that Ukrainians deserve a timeline for elections, he argued that the current situation justifies the delay. “It’s only right and proper that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections. But no, he’s not a dictator,” Farage said. He suggested that elections should take place once a peace deal is on the table, drawing a parallel to the UK’s decision to hold elections in 1945, during the final stages of World War II.
Farage also defended Trump’s broader approach to ending the war, praising his efforts to negotiate peace. “Donald Trump was right to attempt to end the war,” he said, adding that Trump remains committed to NATO. However, Farage acknowledged Trump’s unconventional style, saying, “You should always take everything Donald Trump says seriously, but you shouldn’t always take everything he says absolutely literally.”
The Reform leader also used the opportunity to call on European nations to step up their defense spending, arguing that the US should not bear the brunt of NATO’s costs alone. “European countries have to fulfill our end of the bargain,” he said, warning that a European army without US support would be “pathetically weak.” Farage stressed that the US does not want to “walk away” from NATO but expects its allies to contribute more.
Farage’s comments highlight a rare divergence from Trump’s views, particularly on Ukraine, while also reflecting his ongoing commitment to strengthening transatlantic ties and ensuring fair burden-sharing within NATO. As the war in Ukraine continues, Farage’s call for a clear path to peace and greater European responsibility in defense is likely to spark further debate on both sides of the Atlantic.
