UK Independence Party (Ukip) leader Nigel Farage has named Vladimir Putin as the world leader he most admires, praising the Russian president’s handling of the crisis in Syria.
But the eurosceptic MEP had less kind words for Angela Merkel, describing the German chancellor – who was given the red-carpet treatment by David Cameron on a visit to London earlier this month – as “incredibly cold”.
And he claimed to see little to choose between the leaders of Britain’s three major parties, telling a magazine that he does not “give a damn” whether the Prime Minister or Labour’s Ed Miliband wins next year’s general election.
Mr Farage’s comments emerged just days after the Ukip leader said the European Union had “blood on its hands” for encouraging rebellion in Ukraine, Syria and Libya. While stressing that he did not approve of Mr Putin’s annexation of Crimea, he said EU leaders had been “weak and vain”, adding: “If you poke the Russian bear with a stick he will respond.”
The Ukip leader was quizzed by Labour’s former director of communications Alistair Campbell.
Asked which current world leader he most admired, Mr Farage replied: “As an operator, but not as a human being, I would say Putin.
“The way he played the whole Syria thing. Brilliant. Not that I approve of him politically. How many journalists in jail now?”