Farage says he would review UK aid to Ukraine over corruption concerns if Reform wins power
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would closely scrutinize British support for Ukraine if his party came to power, citing concerns about corruption, while insisting he did not oppose continued assistance to Kyiv.
Speaking at a press conference in Kent on October 12, Farage described Ukraine as "one of the most corrupt countries on earth" and questioned whether British taxpayers' money was being properly used, Politico reported.
"I've never said we shouldn't support Ukraine - ever. But I have said I would like to have a keen look to make sure British taxpayers' money is not being swallowed up in corruption," he said.
The United Kingdom has committed approximately £25 billion ($33 billion) in support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, including £16 billion in military assistance, according to British government figures cited by Politico.
Farage, a longtime ally of US President Donald Trump, also distanced himself from some of Trump's recent positions on Ukraine.
He opposed Trump's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports and declined to endorse the US president's call for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Farage nevertheless argued that Ukraine would eventually need to hold elections, while acknowledging that Russian President Vladimir Putin now posed a greater threat than ever.
Reform UK, which previously led British opinion polls, currently trails the governing Labour Party by four percentage points in Politico's Poll of Polls. Britain's next general election is due by 2029.
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