US EditionEuropeans Criticize De Wever's Call to Normalize Russia Ties
- On March 16, the European Commission ruled out easing the EU's ban on Russian gas despite rising energy costs and market spikes linked to the Iran conflict.
- The bloc's written phaseout mandates LNG imports end by 2026 and pipeline gas by 2027, with EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warning reopening supplies restores Moscow's leverage.
- Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever urged Europe to 'normalize relations with Russia' for cheaper energy in a weekend interview and at BEDEX, drawing criticism from EU ministers and Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
- EU ministers say the debate exposed divisions as some seek to shield households and industry from costs while others warn reintroducing Russian gas would weaken security and finance the war, and Swedish Energy Minister Ebba Busch warned the bloc 'will not fuel the Russian war machinery.'
- Moscow said it could resume long-term supplies if politics were removed, as Brent crude briefly hit $119 a barrel amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.
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The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, rejected in March the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's call as the community block to normalize relations with Moscow in order to redefine Russian energy, informs Reuters. The position of the Belgian Prime Minister is against the radical approach to Moscow wanted by Brussels and the majority of the European leaders supported by Ukraine in the war with ...
EU's Kallas rejects Belgian PM's call to normalise Moscow ties, get cheap Russian energy
BRUSSELS, March 17 - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back on Tuesday against a call by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to normalise relations with Moscow and regain access to cheap Russian energy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Bart De Wever said it is necessary to normalize relations with Russia: "In private European leaders tell me I'm right." Statements generated criticism in Belgium and also from European allies.
The European Commission has ruled out easing the EU's ban on Russian gas, despite renewed political pressure linked to rising energy costs, according to POLITICO. The move came after Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called for normalizing relations with Russia to regain access to cheaper energy. Europe faced another surge in oil and gas prices linked to the conflict involving Iran, reports Telegraph. Brussels rejected this logic and stressed…
Further legal restrictions on imports of Russian gas and oil
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