The Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, has been harshly criticized for calling for the normalization of relations with Russia in order to restore access to cheap energy. He has been accused of playing into Russia’s hands, and any relaxation on the part of the EU towards Moscow will be perceived as a weakness by Vladimir Putin, reports The Guardian.
The judgment of the Flemish nationalist leader has been questioned in Belgium and beyond its borders, after he declared on Saturday that the EU must reach an agreement with Russia.
“We are losing on all fronts, we must end the conflict in the interest of Europe,” he told the Belgian newspaper L’Echo.
De Wever said that Europe must rearm “and, at the same time, we must normalize relations with Russia and regain access to cheap energy. It’s common sense. In private, European leaders tell me I’m right, but no one dares to say it publicly.”
He added that bringing Russia to its knees would only be possible with “100% support from the United States”, noting that Washington is sometimes closer to Vladimir Putin than to Volodimir Zelenski.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, quickly distanced himself from these statements. “Russia refuses European participation at the negotiating table. It clings to maximalist demands,” he said.
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