Belgian PM Urges EU-Russia Talks to End Ukraine War

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever urged the European Union on Saturday to pursue direct negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and restore access to affordable energy supplies, highlighting deepening divisions within his government and across the continent.

In an interview with the Belgian newspaper L'Echo, De Wever argued that Europe's current strategy of providing military aid to Ukraine and imposing economic sanctions on Moscow has proven ineffective without full support from the United States. "Since we are not capable of threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin by sending weapons to Ukraine, and we cannot suffocate his economy without US backing, only one method remains: making a deal," he said. He emphasized the need for the EU to secure a negotiating mandate from member states to ensure a European presence at any talks, warning that exclusion could lead to an unfavorable agreement for the bloc. De Wever also called for normalizing relations with Russia, stating, "We must normalise relations with Russia and regain access to cheap energy. That is common sense."

The prime minister's remarks drew immediate pushback from Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime...