Foreign minister Prévot: ‘Talking about normalising relations with Russia is a sign of weakness’

Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) caused quite a stir Saturday by calling for negotiations between the European Union and Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

In the newspaper L'Echo, De Wever also made a case for normalising relations with Russia. ‘That way, we will regain access to cheap energy. That is common sense.’ The Prime Minister had these words recorded verbatim in the newspaper.

His comments had already raised a few eyebrows, but now opposition is also emerging from within his own federal government, voiced by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.

‘The Prime Minister has spoken of a normalisation of relations with Russia. I understand the intention: nobody wants a war with no end.’ This is how the minister begins a detailed written response to VRT NEWS.

But for him, there can be no question of normalisation as long as Russia does not give an inch and as long as the European Union is not allowed to join the negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.

As head of Belgian diplomacy, Prévot does believe that dialogue with Russia is necessary, because talking is at the heart of diplomacy. But ‘talking does not mean giving in; on the contrary,’ he adds. And dialogue is not the same as normalisation, Prévot argues.

‘The door to dialogue must remain open, but the normalisation of relations with Russia is not on the cards for tomorrow,’ the Foreign Minister concludes his notable response. Prévot’s response has been coordinated with De Wever, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson has confirmed.