“Brexit’s Role in Ukraine: Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Surprising Claim”

British MP Jacob Rees-Mogg claims Brexit played a crucial role in the course of the war in Ukraine. what does he mean with that?

British MP Jacob Rees-MoggKirsty O’Connor/dpa

Conservative British MP Jacob Rees-Mogg says he believes Brexit has played a crucial role in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression.

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine would likely have succeeded had the UK been committed to the Franco-German line in dealings with Russia, Rees-Mogg told Britain’s Sky News on Sunday. This happened after the occupation of Crimea in 2014, resulting in a “dirty compromise”.

But thanks to Brexit, his country, led by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been able to take “global leadership on Ukraine,” Rees-Mogg said. This created a coalition that made it impossible for Putin to realize his plans.

Rees-Mogg is one of a hard core of Brexit hardliners in the House of Commons in London. Under Johnson, he temporarily held the post of Secretary of State for Brexit Options. He should prove that leaving the EU will bring tangible benefits to the country. However, that hardly worked. Among other things, he once claimed that fish in British waters are now “British fish and therefore better and happier” after the country regained control of fishing quotas through Brexit.