Nigel Farage, the leader of the British right-wing populist party Reform UK, has unexpectedly expressed support for Ukraine's accession to NATO.

Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Farage, whose right-wing populist party has topped British opinion polls, believes that Kyiv's rapprochement with the West should be part of a long-term solution. Farage made the comments in London on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump decided to begin direct communication with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Farage, one of Trump's close associates in Europe, told a press conference that he did not want to "pre-judge how these negotiations go".

Quote from Farage: "If we can get Putin into a place, and [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy into a place where we have a reasonable negotiation, I would have thought, looking ahead, it’s probably essential that Ukraine joins NATO."

Details: Later that evening, Farage reiterated his view on GB News, where he is a presenter, emphasising: "Ukraine now joining NATO is almost an essential part of this peace deal."

During last year's election campaign, the Reform UK leader criticised NATO's eastward expansion, arguing that it allowed Putin to justify his invasion. 

Quote from Farage: "We have provoked this war. Of course, it’s his [Putin’s] fault."

Farage's latest comments were made amid attempts by Britain’s Labour government to portray him as more sympathetic to Putin.

Background: On 12 February, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and said Europe "should provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine". He also stressed that US troops would not participate in any peacekeeping operation.

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