Belgium PM clarifies explosive 'normalize ties with Russia' remark
Photo: Bart de Wever (Getty Images)
Normalization of ties with Russia is only possible after peace is achieved in Ukraine. Until then, Belgium supports increasing pressure on Moscow and backing Kyiv, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said ahead of the European Council meeting.
“If I speak about normalizing relations, then of course it is in a situation where we achieve an acceptable and sustainable peace with Russia. This is a long-term situation,” he said in response to a request to clarify his statement about the need to “normalize relations” with the aggressor country.
Bart De Wever noted that he has no differences in views with Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.
“There is no difference in our point of view. Belgium seeks to continue supporting Ukraine 100% and to keep pressure on Russia at a very high level. We strongly support the 20th package of sanctions,” the Belgian prime minister stressed.
He added that Europe must take part in negotiations, as it provides support to Ukraine.
“What I said is that I do not consider it normal when we finance the war but are not represented at the negotiating table. This is not a normal situation. We must negotiate to achieve a peace acceptable (for everyone),” he said.
Background
Last week, the Belgian prime minister said that without full support from the United States, Europe would not be able to “economically strangle” Russia or effectively arm Ukraine for victory.
“Since we cannot threaten Putin (Russian president Vladimir Putin – ed.) by sending weapons to Ukraine, and cannot economically strangle him without the support of the United States, only one method remains: to reach an agreement,” De Wever said at the time.
He also noted that Washington sometimes appears "closer to Putin than to Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy – ed.)." He added that if the EU does not have its own mandate for negotiations, the United States will impose a deal that will be bad for Europe.
Wever’s controversial statements
Last year, amid discussions on confiscating Russian assets, De Wever said that Belgium believes Russia will not lose the war in Ukraine.
For this reason, the assets will have to be returned to the Kremlin after the war. Moreover, the Belgian prime minister complained, Russia openly threatened Belgium with “eternal retaliation” if it confiscates the assets.
Some media outlets directly link De Wever with Russian interests due to his numerous visits to Russia before 2022. Besides, the EU has begun to suspect that Belgium is appropriating proceeds from Russian assets instead of transferring them to Ukraine.
It has gone so far that European countries have directly accused Belgium of excessive demands regarding the protection of frozen Russian assets.
