Farage Breaks with Trump to Back Ukraine
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader and longtime Donald Trump ally, has taken a sharp turn on Ukraine. In an explosive Telegraph interview on November 21, 2025, the 61-year-old blasted the White House’s controversial 28-point peace proposal. His beef? The plan demands Ukraine slash its army from around one million troops to just 600,000 — a cut Farage calls “not acceptable.”
This marks a rare spat with Trump and boosts Farage’s pro-Ukraine credentials, just as Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer fires barbs accusing him of Kremlin sympathies.
Why Farage Says ‘No’ to the Draft Deal
- The leaked plan, from US and Russian negotiators, demands Kyiv give up control of Donbas regions and freeze front lines in key areas.
- Kyiv must ban NATO membership and lift most Western sanctions on Russia.
- Moscow gets to rejoin the G8 club.
- Troop cuts from 1m to 600,000 raise fears Ukraine would be left vulnerable to fresh attacks.
“I’m waiting for Zelenskyy’s counteroffer,” Farage told the Telegraph, warning the deal hands “far too much” to Putin. His stance echoes European leaders’ concerns and stands in stark contrast to Trump’s quick peace push.
Political Fallout and Farage’s Reboot
Once accused of Kremlin sympathy for blaming NATO expansion for the war, Farage has dramatically shifted since early 2025. He labelled Putin “not a rational man” and called on NATO to shoot down Russian jets. He also rejected Trump’s “dictator” tag on Zelenskyy months ago.
Reform UK’s polls soar to 28%, overtaking Labour’s 22%, amid strong public backing for Ukraine aid. Even 65% of Reform voters support continuing support, per Ipsos data.
Starmer, Boris Johnson and Labour MPs aren’t convinced, slamming Farage’s new line as “too little, too late.” But Zelenskyy himself retweeted Farage’s comments, praising the “voices of reason” — a diplomatic boost for the Briton ahead of key elections.
Farage Eyes Leadership and UK’s Role
Farage’s blunt critique breaks with Trump but cements his position as a cautious UK voice in a volatile conflict. With betting odds at 2/1 for next Prime Minister, he’s signalling: “Peace, yes. But not at Ukraine’s expense.”
This shift shows Farage balancing loyalty to transatlantic allies with a firm line on British and European security. As Zelenskyy prepares a counterproposal ahead of the US-imposed Thanksgiving deadline, Farage adds a Eurosceptic thorn to the transatlantic peace talks.
Whether his sharp U-turn sways Washington or remains symbolic will unfold in the coming days — but for now, Farage is staking his claim as a key player shaping the UK’s Ukraine narrative.
