Ukrainian ex-minister attacks West for harbouring Russian money

6 March 2022, 13:03 | Updated: 6 March 2022, 13:34

Former Ukrainian Defence Minister hits out at welcome to Russian money

By Seán Hickey

European cities which welcome Russian money into their economies are effectively 'funding the budget' for Putin to invade Ukraine, the former Minister of Defence in Ukraine insists.

Loading audio...

Andriy Zagorodnyuk joined Tom Swarbrick as pressure grows on the West to impose harsher sanctions on Russian elites living outside of Putin's regime.

Tom wondered if the slow response to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs "confirms in the mind of despots like Putin that he can do what he likes."

Mr Zagorodnyuk admitted that Putin has "built a quite effective system" of support with Russian businesses within the country and across Europe.

Tom wondered if, while Ukraine's Defence Minister, Mr Zagorodnyuk was ripping his hair out at the West's "accommodation of Russia and its influence."

Russians are being brainwashed by Putin regarding Ukraine invasion

"London is not the worst place of all because we at least have the UK government's support in our struggle" the Ukrainian politician admitted. He warned that Ukraine is only the stepping stone of Putin's larger plans.

"Putin isn't aiming just at Ukraine...he wants to destroy NATO, destroy the West and Ukraine is just the first step."

He went on to attack Europe standing by while Russian influence in the West grows: "People funding that budget, funding these crazy scenarios which he is building right now, are being supported by European politicians."

"It's not even hypocrisy, it's a direct support of criminal activity on a huge continental scale."

Best of LBC

On Air Now

Now Discussing

Ukrainian ex-minister attacks West for harbouring Russian money

Listen to this article

More Tom Swarbrick

More Tom Swarbrick

Latest News

Best of LBC

Podcasts

How to Listen

Ukrainian ex-minister attacks West for harbouring Russian money

Listen to this article

More Tom Swarbrick

Trump's counter-terrorism chief says British troops could be stationed in Ukraine if ceasefire is agreed

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice says 'hundreds of thousands' could lose jobs due to Labour's 'appalling' Budget

Terror watchdog warns hostile nations could use 'ordinary Brits' to 'carry out acts of sabotage'

Social housing should be focused on ‘people who have been here for a long time’, Robert Jenrick tells LBC

Israeli hostage's father tells LBC Benjamin Netanyahu must 'negotiate with Satan' to bring hostages home

One child strip searched every 14 hours as commissioner says police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

'I pray he's wrong': Nigel Farage tells LBC following Elon Musk's claim 'civil war is inevitable' in Britain

Nigel Farage refuses to apologise over claims made about Southport attacker being known to police

Courts could sit through night to bring 'speedy justice' to violent protesters, policing minister tells LBC

'I wasn't going to leave her behind': Twin recalls punching crocodile to save sister

Susan Hall dismisses as 'nonsense’ after Ed Miliband said she would be an ‘embarrassment’ as London Mayor

UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's Deputy General tells LBC, as he warns Russia 'cannot be trusted'

Mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber blasts police ‘mistruths’ after force is put in special measures

Former refugees minister Lord Harrington calls for a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes

Rishi Sunak has 'absolutely not' betrayed nation over Rwanda plan, insists minister after Braverman's attack on PM

'Our family is there': Mother shares heartbreaking experience of being a British Jew during Israel-Hamas conflict

'Children should be in the classroom to learn': Gillian Keegan orders 'blanket ban' of mobile phones in schools

Fellow pupil of schoolgirl stabbed to death in Croydon describes heartbreaking moment students were told of her killing

'Isn't this just decriminalising heroin?': Tom Swarbrick questions Labour MSP over first safe drug consumption room

Shadow education secretary says 'Building Schools for the Future Programme' would have prevented Raac crisis

'Is it not completely mental?': Tom Swarbrick astonished as schools shut due to crumble-risk concrete before new term

Equation sheets given to GCSE cohort in attempt lessen reduced grade inflation blow, schools minister says

Internal review of rapist ex-Met officer is the equivalent of 'marking your own homework', says crime commentator

‘Bailed out by Eton’: Education Secretary discusses new free schools with Tom Swarbrick

Lucy Letby: We have to know what went so 'catastrophically wrong' says Tom Swarbrick

Top lawyer blasts Andrew Malkinson rape case as the 'worst miscarriage of justice of the 21st century'

Suella Braverman can't be blamed for housing migrants on barge with Legionella, ConservativeHome editor says

It would be 'manifestly unfair' to use taxpayers' money to subsidise mortgages, Tom Swarbrick says

'It's a case of Ulez you lose', Tom Swarbrick tells Tory chairman as Conservatives retain Uxbridge seat

'Am I complicit in a Holocaust?' asks Tom Swarbrick, as Just Stop Oil compares oil and gas giants to Nazis

Blocking all new North Sea oil and gas projects is 'absurd' and puts UK at 'behest of Putin' says Energy Secretary

Conservatives are 'committed to fighting and winning' the Rwanda case, says Nuclear Minister

More 'visible' policing on London's streets to help restore trust, Met Chief tells LBC

Higher Education Minister expands on recruitment limits on 'Mickey Mouse' degrees

'We need to get Ukraine in as soon as possible': Ex-Defence Secretary disappointed by Ukraine's Nato delay

'Absolutely shocking' that teachers' pay deal may not be funded with new money, says Tom Swarbrick

'It's a crime': Naturalist Steve Backshall's damning verdict on Thames Water

'Emphasis on generalist skills' will place NHS on a secure footing for the long-term says CEO of the NHS Confederation

'It's the corporate greed playbook': Tom Swarbrick accuses debt-ridden Thames Water of exhibiting 'disaster capitalism'

'It's ridiculous!': Tom Swarbrick reacts to £169,000 estimated cost of deporting migrants from Home Office data

Migration Policy Expert condemns Greek authorities for 'practically murdering' migrants

Tom Swarbrick caller proposes 'radical' solution to mortgage crisis by 'taking interest rates out entirely'

Friend of Hamish Harding paid £110,000 to join Titanic submarine expedition but pulled out over ‘safety concerns’

Tories are going to 'collapse the economy' says Tom Swarbrick caller as mortgage bill support is scrapped

'You are the face of this': Tom Swarbrick interrogates BMA leader on picket line absence

Labour's green pledge delayed due to 'mess' Tories made of the economy, Rachel Reeves tells LBC

'Shame on her midwife!': Women outraged after mum-of-three jailed for taking abortion pills after legal limit

'This is nonsense': Tom Swarbrick criticises faith selective schools

Marking boycott may run past September, university union leader tells Tom Swarbrick

Emily Thornberry: Labour will rectify ‘mess’ Tory government have made if voted in at next General Election

'It's Johnsonian levels of cakeism': Tom Swarbrick calls out Keir Starmer's U-turn on free tuition

'I was even ignoring my family': Human perception expert Dr Brian Boxer Wachler likens TikTok to gambling

‘They should get a grip!’: Yvette Cooper shares her view on the ‘totally chaotic’ Home Office

You can change your gender but not your biological sex, says Shadow Home Secretary

Economic adviser criticises 'narrow-minded' Met for fearing a 24-hour Greggs will worsen crime

Widower of BBC's Lisa Shaw demands answers from govt after Covid vaccine led to his wife's death

'We've made our young people extremely poor' says Tom Swarbrick caller amid housing crisis

New mum's German fiancé barred from living in the UK due to post-Brexit visa process

Caller brands the Dalai Lama 'disgusting' after the leader asked a boy to 'suck his tongue'

'We should do it more!': Children's author explains why drag queens help with representation in schools.

'I'd make more in Tesco or Lidl': Prison officer claims there's 'no incentive' to remain in 'dangerous' job

Leading barrister labels judge's decision 'bold' as rapist, 21, walks free

‘What do you get from gazing at a stuffed lion's head you shot?’: Tom Swarbrick quizzes trophy hunting fanatic

Tom Swarbrick baffled after caller suggests migrants should serve time in Britain's forces

Tom Swarbrick caller 'angry' at government's 'incompetence' over lack of safe routes for migrants

Shadow Immigration Minister slams Tory migration plans claiming it 'won't work' and will 'compound the situation'

Tom Swarbrick likens renting to ‘The Hunger Games’ as landlords face investigation

Caller claims it's 'ridiculous' his neighbour Jeremy Clarkson has been denied planning permission

'Five years wasted': Caller furious after Rishi Sunak announces Brexit deal

British state more guilty than Shamima Begum, says David Davis MP

Tom Swarbrick says Tory NI protocol row is 'dangerous and embarrassing'

Caller slams police for giving 'more fuel to the fire' in Nicola Bulley case

Tom Swarbrick slams Lancashire Police for claiming Nicola Bulley is 'high-risk' without giving further details

UK is 'sleepwalking towards an utter disaster' with Russia, warns Tom Swarbrick caller

Nicola Sturgeon's 'self-indulgence' threatens single-sex spaces and drives women to vote Tory, Alex Salmond says

Union boss Mark Serwotka brands Suella Braverman a 'liar', after border left unguarded for nine days

LBC's 'poshest' listener responds to net-zero report urging all homes must be EPC Band C