Keir Starmer has told Nigel Farage to stop “fawning over Putin” as the two clashed in the Commons over the Ukraine crisis.
Farage, leader of Reform UK, questioned the prime minister about the potential deployment of British troops if a peace deal is reached. He referred to a proposed US agreement that would give Ukraine military aid in exchange for access to its natural resources.
Zelenskyy was reportedly set to sign the deal last Friday—until his dramatic Oval Office bust-up with Donald Trump.
‘We should all be supporting Zelenskyy’
Farage pressed Starmer:
“President Zelenskyy has now accepted that he’s going to sign the minerals agreement with America, and America’s going to put in $100 billion or whatever it is and thousands of Americans will be in Ukraine.
“Is that of itself enough of a security guarantee, or does it mean that we need to send British troops? If we do, given the size of our army, how many?”
Starmer fired back:
“The mineral deal is not enough on its own. But can I just remind him Russia is the aggressor? Zelenskyy is a war leader whose country has been invaded. We should all be supporting him and not fawning over Putin.”
Farage under fire for blaming Zelenskyy
Farage has faced backlash for blaming Zelenskyy over the Oval Office confrontation. During the meeting, Trump and vice-president JD Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of not showing enough gratitude for US military aid.
Speaking on LBC, Farage said:
“I think President Zelenskyy was very unwise to tell the Americans what would happen to them if they didn’t back him. Yeah sure, Trump and Vance bit back, but I think in diplomatic terms, Zelenskyy played it very badly.”
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel hit back, calling Farage “completely wrong.”
Posting on X, she wrote:
“President Zelenskyy is a hero who has stood up to Putin’s aggression and led his country’s defence against their barbaric and illegal invasion over the last three years. It is troubling to not hear the leader of Reform say that.”
Farage’s history of Putin praise
Farage’s comments have reignited criticism over his past remarks about Russia.
In a 2014 GQ interview, when asked which world leader he admired, he responded:
“As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.”
During last year’s election campaign, he also sparked controversy by claiming the West had “provoked” Russia into invading Ukraine through NATO and EU expansion.
With tensions high and Ukraine still fighting for its survival, Farage’s stance is once again under scrutiny.
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