Nigel Farage calls for the West to start 'sensible' negotiations with Putin over 'horrific stalemate' in Ukraine as he faces fury for 'echoing' Russian dictator's lines

Nigel Farage has called for the West to hold 'sensible' negotiations with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine as he batted away claims he is 'echoing' Russian propaganda.

The Reform leader said he supported talks arguing the invasion had reached a 'complete stalemate' and the loss of lives was 'horrific'.

Interviewed on an ITV election special being broadcast tonight, Mr Farage repeated his controversial view that NATO and the EU 'provoked' Moscow - although he caveated that was 'up until a few years ago' and stressed he supported giving Kyiv munitions.

Asked how he would deal with Putin, the former MEP said: 'Well, we've tried of course through sanctions to weaken him, but all that's actually done is drive him into the arms of China. 

'He needs to know there's a threat now, he needs to know, he does need to know, it is so far and no further.

'I think the West historically, up until a few years ago, provoked Putin stupidly. I felt the ever, ever eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving Putin a reason to go to war. 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 to try and find a peace to try and find a way through fail, I think it's better to have those negotiations than not.'  

The comments came after Rishi Sunak, James Cleverly and military figures slammed Mr Farage 'for 'echoing Putin's lines' on Ukraine.

In a separate interview on Friday, Mr Farage insisted the eastward 'expansion' of NATO and the EU had 'given a reason' for the Russian president to attack.

The Reform UK leader also spoke of his 'admiration' for Putin as a 'political operator' but insisted he disliked the Russian leader as a person.

Mr Sunak said over the weekend: 'What he said was completely wrong and only plays into Putin's hands.

'This is a man (Putin) who deployed nerve agent on the streets of Britain, who is doing deals with countries like North Korea, and this kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain's security, the security of our allies that rely on us, and only emboldens Putin further.'

Touring broadcast studios yesterday, Mr Cleverly said he did not believe Mr Farage shared Tory values - insisting that meant he could not join the party.

'He has said over and over again his motivation is complete toxicity towards the Conservative Party,' the minister told Sky News.

'At the moment we are seeing things being said by members of the Reform party at every level which I think are completely against the principles and philosophy.'

Mr Cleverly said he was 'very proud' of the role the UK has played over Ukraine and in the Second World War - pointing to one Reform candidate having to apologise for suggesting that Britain should have stayed neutral against Hitler. 

'When we see comments coming out of that party, which are echoing Putin's lines, saying that Churchill should have appeased Hitler... I cannot envisage how attitudes like that have any home in the Conservative Party now or in the future,' he said.

Mr Cleverly added: 'We are passionate about our defence of democracy and freedom, both historically and in the here and now.' 

In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Farage wrote: 'Don't blame me for telling the truth about Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Facing up to the facts about the mistakes of the past has to be the first step towards the peaceful future we all want to see.'

He added: 'I am not and never have been an apologist or supporter of Putin. His invasion of Ukraine was immoral, outrageous and indefensible.'