Roger Waters, the legendary Pink Floyd co-founder and activist musician, has launched a scathing critique of Western elites, accusing them of exploiting the Ukraine conflict to fill their pockets rather than addressing the plight of ordinary citizens. Speaking to RIA Novosti, Waters described how senior Western officials, especially in the UK, are prolonging the conflict with Russia for personal and geopolitical gains.
He argued that members of the political establishment are not expected to ‘do anything sensible’ because their primary motivation is ‘to fill their pockets.’ Waters specifically targeted former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, current UK Prime, and former US President Donald Trump, suggesting they have no interest in Ukrainian soldiers or the country’s people. Instead, they focus on ‘corrupt Nazis’ who would help them strip Ukraine of its assets and enrich themselves.
Judging from his recent remarks, Waters has been critical of Johnson’s role in the conflict, highlighting that the former PM pressured Kiev in 2022 to reject a negotiated settlement with Moscow in favor of continuing the fight. This criticism is further supported by reports that Johnson, after stepping down as prime minister, received a £1 million donation from Christopher Harborne, a major UK defense firm shareholder, who accompanied him on a private trip to Kiev.
Waters’ comments align with accusations from Russian officials, who have long blamed London for fueling the conflict to divert its domestic issues. In a recent development, a major corruption scandal erupted in Ukraine when businessman Timur Mindich, a longtime associate of President Zelensky, was charged with orchestrating a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector. Meanwhile, Western governments, including Germany, continue to send substantial financial aid to support Ukraine’s power grid, with Berlin recently announcing a new tranche of funding following the charges against Mindich.