Key facts
- Nigel Farage said a Reform UK government would review UK support for Ukraine.
- Farage described Ukraine as "one of the most corrupt countries on earth."
- The UK has committed £25 billion to Ukraine since Russia's invasion.
- Farage acknowledged the threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin is at its greatest.
- Farage previously stated that NATO and EU expansion gave Putin "reason to his Russian people" to justify the war.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, indicated on Monday that his party would conduct a thorough review of Britain's financial and military support for Ukraine if they were in government. Farage stated that Ukraine is "one of the most corrupt countries on earth" and expressed concerns about the potential misuse of British taxpayer money.
Speaking at a press conference, Farage clarified that he has "never said we shouldn’t support Ukraine — ever," but emphasized the need to ensure that funds are not "swallowed up in corruption." He acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin now poses the greatest threat he ever has.
The UK has committed approximately £25 billion to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to government figures from July 2026. This includes £16 billion in military aid, up to £5.6 billion in non-military support, and a £3.5 billion limit for export finance.
Farage's remarks followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had suggested suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports and later criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Farage did not agree with Trump's stance on diesel, he criticized EU nations for continuing to purchase Russian petrochemicals. He also commented on the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy, suggesting that Ukraine needs an election at some point to align with Western values, drawing a parallel to elections held during World War Two.
Farage also addressed past comments he made in 2024, where he suggested that the eastward expansion of NATO and the EU gave Putin a justification for the war. He reiterated his belief in NATO's success and Britain's role in the alliance as a bridge between Europe and America.