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Donald Trump is the only one who can stop tyrant Putin – he’s got a key card to play, says Nigel Farage
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DONALD Trump is the only one who can stop Putin - and he'll play a key card to do it, Nigel Farage has declared.
The Brexit firebrand insisted the former US President will not leave Volodymyr Zelensky high and dry if he's re-elected.
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And he laid out exactly how Trump's strength may finally bring the Russian dictator to heel.
He suggested threatening Putin with Ukraine's potential NATO membership would force him to back down.
He said "aggressive move" might be the only thing he "fears".
The Reform UK leader's comments came as he spoke from the US to our Political Editor Harry Cole on this week's Never Mind The Ballots.
Farage jetted off to Milwaukee to support Trump at the Republican National Convention after the assassination attempt against him at the weekend.
Trump was struck in the ear by Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at him from a nearby rooftop during a rally this weekend.
The newly-elected MP for Clacton said he did not know exactly how his "friend" was feeling but added: "He is not going to be exactly the same as he was before."
Farage was then pressed on a wide-range of issues, including Trump's choice of JD Vance as his vice-presidential pick despite fears in Europe he would pursue an "America first" foreign policy.
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He dismissed those claims, arguing Trump was a "much bigger player" on the world stage than "anybody thought he would be".
Farage went on: "He believes that peace comes through strength.
"So he's not going to leave Zelensky with nothing ahead of an attempted negotiation. Of course, he is not.
"I actually think there's one quite strong card that we have against Putin, which is actually NATO membership.
"We say to Putin that you've got to give up ground, otherwise, Ukraine is going to join NATO.
"Now, that will be a very aggressive act, but it might be the one thing that Putin actually fears."
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Farage also reiterated his claim the war in Ukraine would have not happened if Trump had been in the White House.
On possible peace negotiations, he said: "I can't predict whether a peace negotiation will be successful or not.
"All I can say is that all wars ended in one of two ways. One is a negotiated peace settlement. The other is annihilation."
Farage and Trump are known to be friends and have campaigned together, with Farage seen interviewing Trump and at rallies.
I actually think there's one quite strong card that we have against Putin.
Nigel Farage
The ex-US president wished the Brexit campaigner a happy 60th birthday.
In a video message played at Farage's party on April 3, Trump said: "You're a historic figure as a prophetic leader, and I know that the people of the UK are grateful for your patriotism and service.
"In fact. I'm very much looking forward to watching what your next move is going to be, it's going to be an interesting one."
Farage has previously said he would happily serve as Britain's ambassador to the US under a Trump presidency.
Trump also congratulated Farage on winning his first ever seat - saying "Nigel loves his country".
He said: "Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success.
Posting on Twitter, Trump added: "Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT"
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President Joe Biden has ordered a review to find out how Crooks, 20, got so close to Trump — as security were aware of his presence up to three hours earlier.
He was noticed trying to get a range-finder hunting device past metal detectors in a screening area in the build-up to the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
The gunman was shot dead and his motive remains unclear.
Two days after the attack, Trump made a triumphant entrance during the first night of the Republican National Convention.
He received a raucous ovation from the party faithful as he arrived with a thick bandage over the ear as the crowd chanted "Fight! Fight! Fight" and pumped their fists.
The former US President is due to accept the party's nomination in a prime-time speech tonight.
Farage is not the only UK politician who made the trip across the pond for the event.
Trump and former PM Boris Johnson met on the fringes of the Convention for around half an hour earlier this week, over which period Mr Johnson said Ukraine was discussed "at length".
"It was great to see president Trump, who is on superb form following the appalling attempt on his life," he said.
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"I noted the courage, resilience and sheer indomitability with which he has responded.
"We discussed Ukraine at length and I know that he will give the strong and decisive leadership necessary to protect democracy against aggression."
Nigel Farage's life and career
NIGEL Farage is best known for his outspoken opinions and anti-EU championing of Brexit.
Farage was born in Kent and attended the private Dulwich College.
After leaving the famous private school, he decided to skip university and started working in the City - London's finance district - in 1982.
Despite supporting the Conservatives since school, he left the party after John Major signed the Maastricht Treaty.
He became a founding member of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), which campaigned to leave the European Union, in 1993.
Farage did get elected to the European Parliament in 1999, and stayed there until 2020.
After being made leader of UKIP in 2006, Farage declared he wanted to “regain control” of the UK’s borders and immigration and has called for a points-based visa system and time-limited work permits.
He resigned as UKIP leader to stand in the 2010 general election.
But on the day of the 2010 UK general election he survived a plane crash and spent two days in hospital.
In 2014, Farage led UKIP to the largest share of the vote in the European election.
He stood down from UKIP in 2019 and launched the Brexit Party.
In 2021, he resigned as leader of Reform UK - the renamed Brexit Party.
The UK's most prominent Brexiteer has long been a friend and ally of former US President Donald Trump, and has been seen interviewing him and supporting him at rallies.
He has said he would happily serve as Britain's ambassador under a Trump presidency.
Farage has four children - two sons with his ex-wife and two daughters with Kirsten Mehr, a German national he reportedly met in 1996.
Outside of politics the former UKIP leader has also appeared on hit ITV show I'm A Celebrity last year.