Reform UK Stands as the Last Major Party to Defend Zelenskyy
For hours, Nigel Farage said nothing. As Donald Trump’s explosive claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a “dictator” sent shockwaves through political circles, a chorus of condemnation erupted from across the UK’s political spectrum. But Farage? Silence.
Now, at last, he has spoken.
Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK leader addressed Trump’s controversial remarks, choosing his words carefully:
“You should always take what Donald Trump says seriously. You shouldn’t always take what Donald Trump says absolutely literally. I think that applies absolutely in this case.”
Farage did, however, clarify his stance:
“Let’s be clear, Zelenskyy is not a dictator. But it’s only right and proper that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections. After all, I recently said I thought Keir Starmer was behaving like a dictator because he cancelled the vote of 5.5 million in local elections on May 1 this year.
“So no, he’s not a dictator, but there needs to be a timeline so Ukrainian people can vote on a peace deal.”
Timing and Political Reactions
Ukraine postponed its 2024 presidential election due to the ongoing war with Russia. Meanwhile, Farage’s delayed response raised eyebrows, given that Trump’s comments had been out in the open for several hours before the Reform UK leader addressed them.
By contrast, Prime Minister Keir Starmer wasted no time in reaffirming the UK’s stance, phoning Zelenskyy directly to stress that Britain remains behind “Ukraine’s democratically elected leader.” He also reminded Zelenskyy that Britain itself postponed elections during World War II.
Others were more forceful. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch took to social media with a firm rebuttal:
“President Zelenskyy is not a dictator. He is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey was even more scathing, dismissing Trump’s accusations as “lies” and urging that “calling Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ must be where the line is drawn.”
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer accused Trump of peddling “dangerous propaganda, taken directly from Putin’s playbook.”
Farage Under Fire
Farage’s initial silence did not go unnoticed. A Tory source remarked: “Nigel Farage’s silence speaks volumes…”
Davey, never one to miss an opportunity, suggested Farage was deliberately “keeping his head down” because he was preparing to attend a pro-Trump event. He later posted:
“There’s a rumour that Nigel Farage is keeping his head down because he’s off to a Trump cheerleading conference over the weekend. I’m afraid I’m being proved right – Farage is far more interested in Trump’s success than British security. He is a bootlicker and a plastic patriot.”
And when Farage finally responded, Davey doubled down:
“So Nigel Farage has chosen to explain away Trump’s outrageous remarks about President Zelenskyy instead of doing the right thing and condemning them. Deeply disappointing but not at all surprising. He sounds like a spokesman for Trump. He certainly doesn’t speak for Britain.”
Green MP Ellie Chowns echoed the sentiment, branding Farage’s response “as weak as we’ve come to expect.” She added:
“For a man who claims to care so deeply about ‘sovereignty’, Farage seems to have very little interest in standing up for a sovereign nation defending itself against an invading power.”
Reform UK and the Ukraine War: A Different View?
Farage’s careful wording may have something to do with his party’s voter base. A YouGov poll found that Reform UK voters hold notably different views on the Ukraine war compared to the wider British electorate. While 77%–86% of Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat voters want Ukraine to win, only 47% of Reform voters feel the same.
With a general election on the horizon, Farage may be walking a tightrope, careful not to alienate his base while still attempting to maintain credibility on the international stage.
One thing is certain: when it comes to Trump and Ukraine, Farage remains a man caught between two worlds.
