Prime Minister Bart De Wever
The Pathfinder
Tuesday March 17, 2026
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A disagreement has emerged within Belgium’s leadership over how Europe should respond to the ongoing war involving Russia, with Prime Minister Bart De Wever calling for renewed engagement, while Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot firmly rejected the position.
De Wever urged European leaders to consider normalising relations with Russia as part of efforts to end the conflict and restore access to affordable energy.
Speaking to Belgian newspaper L’Echo, the Prime Minister said Europe must adopt a pragmatic approach.
“We are losing on all fronts; we must conclude the conflict in the interest of Europe,” he said.
He added that alongside rearmament, Europe should seek to rebuild ties with Russia to stabilise energy supplies.
“At the same time, we need to normalize relations with Russia and regain access to inexpensive energy. This is a matter of common sense,” De Wever stated.
He further suggested that achieving a decisive outcome in the war would require full backing from the United States, noting that Washington’s posture sometimes appears closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin than to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, Prévot distanced himself from the Prime Minister’s comments, warning that any move toward normalisation at this stage could weaken European unity.
“Russia is unwilling to permit European involvement at the negotiating table. It is adhering to maximalist demands,” he said.
According to him, easing pressure on Moscow would send the wrong signal.
“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 added.
He argued that reducing pressure would effectively hand Russia a strategic advantage.
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys, also weighed in on the debate, recalling Russia’s pre-war demands in 2021, including restrictions on NATO deployments in Eastern Europe.
Budrys warned that such demands extend beyond Ukraine and could affect broader regional security.
“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,” he said.
The differing positions highlight ongoing divisions within Europe over how best to handle relations with Russia amid the protracted conflict.
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