Sammy Wilson, a member of the British Parliament from the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, supported the words of the leader of the Reform UK party Nigel Farage that the West “provoked” Russia to launch a special operation in Ukraine by expanding NATO, The Irish News reports.

During an election event in Northern Ireland’s Larne, responding to a request to evaluate Farage’s comments, Wilson said that he “only stated the obvious.” According to the politician, President Vladimir Putin is striving to restore the buffer zone on the country’s border, which “Russia would always use as a means of protection after its experience in World War II.”

As the publication reminds, in the UK, Farage’s words provoked widespread criticism and most politicians were quick to condemn the “repetition of Russian rhetoric.” One of the Northern Irish politicians present at the event in Larne was also quick to call the statements “absolutely shocking.”

@ino_tv