Photo: RBC
The European Union cannot return to normal relations with Russia as long as it remains in its current state, as doing so would only embolden aggression, said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in an interview with Reuters.
Kallas rejected claims by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever that European leaders privately support normalizing ties with Moscow.
“I have been behind those closed doors during leaders’ meetings, and I do not see such sentiment,” she said.
According to Kallas, before engaging in any negotiations with Russia, EU countries must first agree on what exactly they want to discuss.
“If we simply return to business as usual, we will get more of the same — more wars. We’ve seen this before, so we must remain very vigilant and not give Russia what it wants, because its appetite will only grow,” she stressed.
Controversial proposal from Belgium
Earlier, Bart De Wever suggested that without support from the United States, the EU cannot economically pressure Russia enough or arm Ukraine to ensure Moscow’s defeat.
He proposed that the EU consider normalizing relations with Russia and resuming imports of Russian energy resources. The idea was widely criticized, including within Belgium’s ruling coalition.
De Wever later softened his stance, clarifying that normalization should only be considered after the war against Ukraine ends.
