UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey have condemned Nigel Farage's claim that Western expansion provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating it plays into Vladimir Putin's hands and undermines security. Sunak emphasized that such remarks embolden Putin, who has a history of hostile actions like deploying nerve agents in Britain. Starmer reiterated the UK's firm stance with Ukraine and commitment to NATO. Farage's comments were also criticized by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Ukrainian President Zelensky's office, which accused Farage of being 'infected by the virus of Putinism'. Despite the backlash, Farage defended his position, arguing that NATO and EU expansion provided Putin with a pretext for war.