Starmer advised reporters Farage’s feedback had been “disgraceful,” including that Russia alone is answerable for the invasion of Ukraine.
“Anybody who’s standing for parliament must be actually clear that Russia is the aggressor, Putin bears accountability, and that we stand with Ukraine, as now we have finished from the start of this battle,” he mentioned. “Parliament has spoken with one voice on this because the starting of the battle.”
Farage made the feedback in an interview with BBC’s Panorama on Friday night within the run-up to the July 4 U.Ok. normal elections. On this system, Farage was challenged on a social media put up he despatched as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine again in early 2022, which mentioned the battle “was a consequence of EU and NATO growth.”
Requested whether or not he stood by these views Friday, Farage mentioned he had been warning for many years in regards to the rising scope of each the army alliance and the EU.
“We’ve got provoked this conflict,” Farage mentioned. “In fact, it’s his [Putin’s] fault. He’s used what we’ve finished.”
His feedback have sparked a wave of criticism apart from Sunak and Starmer, together with from Labour protection spokesman John Healey, who mentioned the feedback “reveal the true face of Nigel Farage: a Putin apologist who ought to by no means be trusted with our nation’s safety.”
Former Conservative Protection Secretary Ben Wallace likened him to a “pub bore we’ve all met on the finish of the bar,” in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s At present program.
“I’m one of many few figures which have been constant & sincere in regards to the conflict with Russia,” mentioned Farage on social media community X Friday night. “Putin was improper to invade a sovereign nation, and the EU was improper to develop eastward. The earlier we understand this, the nearer we can be to ending the conflict and delivering peace.”
