Belgium’s Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, has advocated Europe normalized its relations with Russia in order to restore affordable energy supplies.
He stated that the EU should negotiate with Russia, insisting “We are losing on all fronts; we must conclude the conflict in the interest of Europe,” he remarked to the Belgian newspaper L’Echo.
De Wever asserted that Europe must rearm, stating, “At the same time, we need to normalize relations with Russia and regain access to inexpensive energy.
“This is a matter of common sense. In private, European leaders agree with me, but no one is willing to voice it publicly.”
He further noted that bringing Russia to submission would require “100% support from the United States,” adding that Washington sometimes appears to be closer to Vladimir Putin than to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, promptly distanced himself from De Wever’s remarks. “Russia is unwilling to permit European involvement at the negotiating table. It is adhering to maximalist demands,” he stated.
“As long as this situation persists, any talk of normalization will be viewed as a sign of weakness that undermines European unity, which is more crucial than ever.”
Prévot, who belongs to a centrist party that is part of De Wever’s coalition, remarked that alleviating pressure would be tantamount to “giving Putin exactly what he desires.”
When questioned about De Wever’s statements on Monday, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys, recalled the demands Russia had made in 2021, just prior to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
These demands included the removal of NATO troops or weapons from countries that joined the alliance after 1997, effectively encompassing much of Eastern Europe, including Poland, the Baltic states, and the Balkan nations.
Budrys stated: “We are aware of their demands from ’21. And this will not only pertain to Ukraine; it will also concern us and the deployment of forces, among other issues. Therefore, we must consolidate our strength.”
