Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under fire for views expressed about Russian President Vladimir Putin. PA
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under fire for views expressed about Russian President Vladimir Putin. PA
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under fire for views expressed about Russian President Vladimir Putin. PA
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under fire for views expressed about Russian President Vladimir Putin. PA

Putin row casts shadow over Nigel Farage's Reform party


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stood by his claim that the West "provoked" Russia into invading Ukraine after facing a barrage of criticism from other political leaders.

Speaking on Monday at a campaign event, Mr Farage said he would "never, ever defend" Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, he told the crowd: "I was alone, I was the only person in 2014 who said there will be a war in Ukraine. I can't take those words away and nor would I want to."

He said had been "more far-sighted" in predicting a war in Ukraine, telling an event in Kent: "This has been turned into 'Farage makes outrageous statement', 'Farage defends Putin', well, I've done none of those things.

"I would never, ever defend Putin and I think his behaviour in Ukraine and elsewhere has been reprehensible.

"But if we're going to think towards peace at some time in the not too distant future, perhaps it might be helpful to understand what went wrong in the first place."

On Monday, Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is widely expected to win the general election on July 4, said he strongly disputed the Reform leader’s call that peace talks should be held.

"I fundamentally disagree. Russia is the aggressor here,” said Mr Starmer.

He added that he had been "proud of the fact that we've had unity throughout our parliament" in support for Kyiv.

Mr Starmer was responding to comments by Mr Farage, who said in a TV interview that the West “provoked Putin stupidly”. Mr Farage added: “I guess the question is, what do we do now? And yes, I do support us giving munitions and help to Ukraine, but I feel the war is a complete stalemate. I think the number of lives being lost is horrific.

“There have been no sensible substantive negotiations of any kind and even if negotiations ... fail, I think it's better to have those negotiations than not.”

Speaking in Scotland on Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "You all heard what Nigel Farage said about Ukraine.

World leaders attend the Ukraine peace summit - in pictures

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins heads of states and country representatives during the Ukraine peace summit at the Burgenstock resort, near Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 15. AFP
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins heads of states and country representatives during the Ukraine peace summit at the Burgenstock resort, near Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 15. AFP
  • British Prime minister Rishi Sunak, left, is welcomed by Mr Zelenskyy. AFP
    British Prime minister Rishi Sunak, left, is welcomed by Mr Zelenskyy. AFP
  • Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, left, with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, centre, and Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
    Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, left, with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, centre, and Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
  • Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisa bin Farhan Al Saud is welcomed by Mr Zelenskyy. Reuters
    Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisa bin Farhan Al Saud is welcomed by Mr Zelenskyy. Reuters
  • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
  • US Vice President Kamala Harris, middle left, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, middle, Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, bottom left, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, top centre, Mr Zelenskyy, bottom right, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, middle right, and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, bottom right. AFP
    US Vice President Kamala Harris, middle left, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, middle, Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, bottom left, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, top centre, Mr Zelenskyy, bottom right, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, middle right, and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, bottom right. AFP
  • Mr Zelenskyy welcomes Ms von der Leyen. EPA
    Mr Zelenskyy welcomes Ms von der Leyen. EPA
  • French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Reuters
    French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Reuters
  • Spain's President Pedro Sanchez, left, and Mr Sunak walk to the podium for a photograph with heads of states and country representatives. AFP
    Spain's President Pedro Sanchez, left, and Mr Sunak walk to the podium for a photograph with heads of states and country representatives. AFP
  • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, with Gambia's Minister of Information Ismaila Ceesay. AFP
    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, with Gambia's Minister of Information Ismaila Ceesay. AFP
  • World leaders pose for a family photo at the summit's opening ceremony. Reuters
    World leaders pose for a family photo at the summit's opening ceremony. Reuters
  • Ms Amherd welcomes Mr Rutte. AFP
    Ms Amherd welcomes Mr Rutte. AFP
  • Mr Zelenskyy awards Denmark's Prime minister Mette Frederiksen with the 'Order of Freedom of Ukraine' title before a meeting on the sidelines of the summit. AFP
    Mr Zelenskyy awards Denmark's Prime minister Mette Frederiksen with the 'Order of Freedom of Ukraine' title before a meeting on the sidelines of the summit. AFP
  • Mr Zelenskyy welcomes President Javier Milei of Argentina. EPA
    Mr Zelenskyy welcomes President Javier Milei of Argentina. EPA

"That plays into Putin's hands. That kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain's security, the security of our allies that rely on us and will only embolden Putin."

Meanwhile, Mr Farage also hit back at Boris Johnson, after the former prime minister condemned his views.

Writing in The Telegraph on Saturday, Mr Farage had urged readers not to blame him for "telling the truth about Putin's war".

Mr Johnson shared the article on X, formerly Twitter, calling Mr Farage's views "morally repugnant".

Referring to The Telegraph article, Mr Johnson wrote: "This is nauseating ahistorical drivel and more Kremlin propaganda.

"Nobody provoked Putin. Nobody 'poked the bear with a stick'.

"The people of Ukraine voted overwhelmingly in 1991 to be a sovereign and independent country.

"They were perfectly entitled to seek both Nato and EU membership. There is only one person responsible for Russian aggression against Ukraine – both in 2014 and 2022 – and that is Putin.

"To try to spread the blame is morally repugnant and parroting Putin's lies."

Boris Johnson meets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during a surprise visit to Ukraine. PA
Boris Johnson meets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during a surprise visit to Ukraine. PA

Mr Putin has served continuously as either Russian president or prime minister since 1999, with elections which have been described as "rigged".

Home Secretary James Cleverly accused Mr Farage of "echoing Putin's vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine" and Labour shadow defence secretary John Healey said Mr Farage was "a Putin apologist who should never be trusted with our nation's security".

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

RESULTS

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EClara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPatrick%20Rogers%2C%20Lee%20McMahon%2C%20Arthur%20Guest%2C%20Ahmed%20Arif%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegalTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%20of%20seed%20financing%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20Techstars%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20OTF%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Knuru%20Capital%2C%20Plug%20and%20Play%20and%20The%20LegalTech%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

SPECS

Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR

Engine: 5.7-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 362hp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

The specs

Common to all models unless otherwise stated

Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi

0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)

Power: 276hp

Torque: 392Nm

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD

Price: TBC

RESULT

Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: 
Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)    

Get inspired

Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).

Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.  

Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?). 

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E77kWh%202%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E178bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E410Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C150%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

Match info

Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5', 33', Rashford 45', Lukaku 72')

Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2')

Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)

The Saudi Cup race card

1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000

2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000

3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000

4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000

5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000

6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000

7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000

8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins

Updated: June 24, 2024, 2:42 PM