Nigel Farage and Russia

Overview

Nigel Farage has been at the centre of debates about Russia and Western foreign policy for more than a decade. His public statements on Vladimir Putin, NATO expansion, sanctions and the war in Ukraine have drawn sustained criticism, with many commentators arguing that his rhetoric echoes themes promoted by Russian state media. Farage rejects these claims and says he offers a candid assessment of Western policy failures.

New developments in 2025, including the conviction of his long time political ally Nathan Gill for Russian linked bribery, have intensified scrutiny. This page provides an updated and fact based account of the key controversies.

Last updated: 10 December 2025

Praise for Vladimir Putin

Farage has made several comments about Vladimir Putin that have been widely criticised.

In 2014, he named Putin as the world leader he most admired “as an operator”, describing him as effective in foreign policy despite acknowledging human rights concerns.
He also said that Russia’s annexation of Crimea was “entirely understandable”, framing the crisis as a consequence of Western missteps.
After the full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Farage attempted to distance himself from earlier remarks, calling Putin “the devil we know”, but continued to argue that Western leaders played a role in escalating tensions.
Fact checkers reviewing his statements in 2024 and 2025 confirmed that his admiration comments were accurately reported.

Critics argue that Farage’s language normalised an authoritarian leader responsible for major human rights abuses. Farage maintains he was commenting on geopolitical strategy rather than endorsing Putin’s regime.

NATO and the Claim that the West “Provoked” Russia

Farage has repeatedly argued that NATO and European Union enlargement contributed to Russia’s decision to attack Ukraine.

He has said that decades of NATO expansion created conditions in which Putin could claim that Russia was being encircled.
In a high profile 2024 interview he stated “we provoked this war”, while adding that Putin was ultimately responsible for choosing to invade.
His comments prompted condemnation across political parties and from defence experts who stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance and that membership is voluntary.

Analysts note that Russia’s interference in Ukraine began long before recent enlargements and that many states sought NATO membership specifically to protect themselves from Russian aggression.

Sanctions on Russia

Farage has consistently criticised Western sanctions against Russia.

He argued that sanctions do not work and harm British households more than the Kremlin.
He claimed Russia had easily diverted its energy exports to new customers and questioned whether asset freezes were lawful.
Independent analysis by financial institutions and security researchers shows that sanctions have significantly restricted Russia’s export revenues, reduced access to advanced technology and slowed long term economic growth.

Farage presents his position as a defence of economic realism. Critics argue it understates the demonstrated impact of coordinated sanctions.

Nathan Gill and the Russian Bribery Case

In 2025, Farage’s relationship with Russia came under renewed scrutiny when his long time political ally Nathan Gill admitted to taking bribes connected to a Russian linked influence operation.

Gill, a former UKIP and Brexit Party MEP and former leader of Reform UK in Wales, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery in September 2025. The court found that:

He accepted approximately forty thousand pounds in secret payments from a pro Russian Ukrainian politician.
In return, he delivered scripted speeches, amendments and media statements in the European Parliament that supported Russian interests.
He encouraged other MEPs in the Farage bloc to echo lines provided by the same intermediary, although those colleagues were not accused of criminal conduct.
He was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison in November 2025.

There is no evidence that Farage was aware of or involved in the scheme. Critics argue the case raises concerns about vulnerabilities within political networks linked to him. Supporters say the episode reflects solely on Gill’s actions.

See: Nathan Gill linked to Russian bribery (Farage Exposed fact check)

Russian State Media Platforms

Farage appeared frequently on the state owned broadcaster RT during the 2010s.

He used the platform to criticise the European Union, NATO and British governments.
Critics argue these appearances provided legitimacy to a propaganda outlet that advanced Kremlin interests.
Farage says he participated as a commentator and engaged with international audiences in good faith.

After the invasion of Ukraine, RT was banned in several Western countries. Earlier appearances were revisited as part of broader scrutiny of how Western political figures engaged with Russian state media.

Russia and Brexit

Farage has always denied receiving Russian funding, but his involvement in the Brexit campaign remains part of broader discussions about foreign interference.

Parliamentary reports and intelligence assessments have highlighted Russian backed disinformation activity that amplified anti EU narratives in 2016.
Russian state media frequently promoted Farage’s speeches and interviews.
Official inquiries did not find evidence of direct Russian financial support for Farage or the Leave campaign, but they warned that the UK lacked adequate mechanisms to detect or prevent foreign influence.

This has contributed to ongoing concern about how Russian information operations intersected with domestic political movements.

Other Alleged Russia Ties and Network Concerns

Several additional issues are often cited in public debate. These do not show wrongdoing by Farage but form part of the wider landscape of questions and commentary.

Arron Banks and Russian Embassy Contacts

Arron Banks, a major supporter of Farage and the Leave campaign, held multiple meetings with Russian embassy officials and discussed possible business ventures after the referendum. Investigations did not find breaches of electoral law. Banks denied any improper relationship. The episode remains a frequent reference point due to Banks’ close association with Farage.

Media Reporting on US Investigations

In the aftermath of the 2016 United States presidential election, some outlets reported that Farage was of interest to investigators examining Russian interference due to his connections with Donald Trump and figures linked to WikiLeaks. These claims did not result in formal action. No evidence has been presented that Farage engaged in wrongdoing. Farage dismissed the reporting as politically motivated.

Banking Risk Assessments

Internal documents disclosed during the closure of Farage’s bank account in 2023 indicated that he was classified as a politically exposed person. Part of the reputational risk assessment referenced widespread media reporting about Russian influence allegations involving associates and campaigns. These assessments were precautionary rather than evidence of misconduct.

Conclusion

Nigel Farage’s positions on Russia have long attracted controversy, from comments praising Vladimir Putin to claims that NATO provoked the war in Ukraine. He has criticised sanctions, appeared regularly on Russian state television and been at the centre of debates about foreign interference during the Brexit era. The 2025 bribery conviction of Nathan Gill has added a new dimension by demonstrating that a senior figure in Farage’s political circle acted in a way that benefited Russian interests.

While Farage himself has not been implicated in Gill’s conduct or in any Russian funded activity, the combination of his own statements, his media appearances and a series of network based concerns continues to shape public debate about his stance on Russia and foreign policy.

See other topics in the Nigel Farage controversies index and explore related entries in the Fact Checking Hub.

Disclaimer

Farage Exposed is an independent, non commercial project created for informational and public interest purposes. All information is based on publicly available reporting, verified analysis and official records. Readers are encouraged to consult multiple sources and consider information critically. The project does not claim affiliation with or endorsement by any individuals or organisations mentioned.