Belgium’s Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, has stirred debate across Europe after urging the European Union to normalize relations with Russia in order to regain access to affordable energy supplies and bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In remarks to Belgian newspaper L’Echo, De Wever argued that Europe is suffering economically and strategically from the prolonged war and should pursue negotiations with Moscow.
“We are losing on all fronts; we must conclude the conflict in the interest of Europe,” he said.
The Belgian leader stressed that Europe must simultaneously strengthen its military capabilities while rebuilding ties with Moscow.
“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 said, adding that many European leaders privately share his view but are reluctant to say so publicly.
De Wever also suggested that bringing Russia to heel would be impossible without full backing from the United States, implying that Washington’s position has at times appeared ambiguous.
He claimed that the U.S. occasionally seems closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin than to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a statement likely to fuel further controversy within NATO and EU circles.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, quickly distanced himself from the prime minister’s comments, warning that any move toward normalization at this stage would undermine European unity.
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“Russia is unwilling to permit European involvement at the negotiating table. It is adhering to maximalist demands,” Prévot said.
He argued that easing pressure on Moscow while the war continues would send the wrong signal and weaken the bloc’s collective stance.
“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,” he added.
Prévot, a centrist politician whose party is part of De Wever’s governing coalition, further warned that reducing sanctions or diplomatic pressure would amount to “giving Putin exactly what he desires.”
Concerns were also echoed by officials from Eastern Europe, where fears of Russian expansion remain acute.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys, pointed to demands made by Moscow in 2021 — shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — as evidence of broader strategic ambitions.
Those demands included the withdrawal of NATO troops and weapons from countries that joined the alliance after 1997, a move that would affect much of Eastern Europe, including Poland, the Baltic states and several Balkan nations.
“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,” Budrys said.
Europe has faced soaring energy costs since cutting reliance on Russian oil and gas following the invasion of Ukraine, prompting some leaders and political factions to question whether long-term economic stability can be maintained without restored energy flows.
However, critics argue that normalization without a resolution to the conflict would reward aggression and fracture the EU’s unified stance against Moscow.
The contrasting reactions to De Wever’s remarks highlight deep divisions within Europe over how to balance security concerns, economic pressures and diplomatic realities as the war in Ukraine continues with no clear end in sight.