LONDON — Nigel Farage asserted on Thursday that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “not a dictator,” directly opposing comments made by his close ally, Donald Trump. The U.S. president had previously described the Ukrainian leader as a “dictator without elections” who misled the United States into supporting Ukraine following Russia’s extensive military invasion.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, emphasized Zelenskyy’s democratic election but underscored the importance of setting a timeline for elections in Ukraine. “Let’s be clear, Zelenskyy is not a dictator but it’s only right and proper that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections,” he stated during an interview on the conservative channel GB News.
Context of the comments
Farage made his comments from Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, which continues until Saturday. When pressed about Trump’s statements, he remarked, “You should always take everything Donald Trump says seriously. You shouldn’t always take things that Donald Trump says absolutely literally.”
Farage referenced the existing tension between Trump and Ukraine, stemming from the former president’s first impeachment in late 2019. The House of Representatives had impeached Trump for allegedly withholding military aid from Ukraine to pressure its leaders into launching investigations into his Democratic opponents, including Joe Biden, who later won the 2020 presidential election. Ultimately, the Senate acquitted Trump of all charges.
Farage’s views on elections and NATO
Despite not entirely distancing himself from Trump, Farage drew historical parallels, noting that the U.K. conducted a general election in 1945 during World War II, even while the nation was still engaged in conflict with Japan: “No bombs had been dropped. The nuclear bomb had not been dropped. There were British soldiers dying in large numbers every single day in Japanese camps.” He added, “I’m not suggesting Ukraine has an election tomorrow, but once we see the shape of a peace deal, then of course, there should be an election.”
Farage has consistently expressed skepticism regarding the support from both the Conservative and Labour governments in the U.K. for an extended conflict in Ukraine. He argues that the war requires “concessions on both sides” and has dismissed the notion of Ukraine achieving victory as “for the birds.” Additionally, he has questioned the U.K. decision to permit Ukraine to utilize long-range missiles against targets within Russia.
Nonetheless, Farage, who was elected to the U.K. Parliament for the first time last July, has stated that Ukraine should be permitted to join NATO, a position that contrasts with Trump’s views.