Richard Tice said that Kyiv must accept an ‘uncomfortable compromise’ with Putin and suggested its demand for NATO membership may be shelved, months after Nigel Farage said this demand was ‘almost essential’
Reform has been accused of descending into “Putin apologism” after appearing to row back on support for Ukraine joining NATO.
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a former RAF wing commander, accused Nigel Farage and his team of spouting Kremlin-inspired talking points. It comes after Mr Farage’s number two, Richard Tice, said Ukraine must not be admitted to the bloc if it is a red-line for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Tice said Kyiv must accept an “uncomfortable compromise” in return for peace. In February his party leader said it was “essential” for the war torn country to be admitted into NATO.
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Mr Bailey told The Mirror: “Reform has rowed back on NATO membership for Ukraine. This further descent into Putin apologism is no surprise given Nigel Farage’s admiration for the Russian President in the past…
“Nigel Farage and his cronies can spout Kremlin-inspired talking points all they want but the public see through it. We will not be taking lessons from Putin apologists.”
He said Ukraine is “on an irreversible path to NATO membership”. It comes just days after Mr Farage was dismissed as a “Putin-loving free speech impostor” by Democrat Jamie Raskin when he gave evidence at the US Congress.
In 2014 Mr Farage said in a now-infamous interview that he admired Putin as an “operator” – but not as a human being. In February the Reform leader said Ukraine joining NATO “is almost an essential part of this peace deal”. But Mr Tice appeared to roll back on that in an interview with Politics Home, saying Kyiv would have to accept an “uncomfortable compromise” for an “enduring settlement”.
He said that the Government should focus on seizing £25billion of frozen Russian assets. Mr Tice stated: “What we do know about him (Putin) is he likes money. Lots of it.
“He views that money as his own, and if the West takes it, then that will bring him into a different place.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced his determination to be admitted into the defence bloc. NATO membership means an attack on one state is considered an attack on all.
Mr Tice said:“If Putin said, ‘okay, we are right on a deal,’ but the absolute break point for him is if Ukraine joins NATO within a defining period, does everyone walk away and say, ‘no, no, let’s keep killing each other because Ukraine wants to join NATO’?” Tice said. He went on: “or do you say, ‘well, there might be a different way of doing this?’”
A Reform spokesman told The Mirror: “Reform has been steadfast in our support for Ukraine and ensuring it secures security guarantees. Richard Tice has been to Ukraine and delivered aid too – these baseless smears by Labour won’t work.”
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