Finance
Exclusive-EU's Kallas Rejects Belgian PM's Call to Normalise Moscow Ties, Get Cheap Russian Energy
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas firmly dismissed Belgian PM Bart De Wever’s suggestion to normalise ties with Russia for cheap energy, underscoring the bloc’s commitment to sanctions, defence and unity against Moscow’s aggression.
EU’s Kallas Rejects Belgian PM's Proposal to Normalise Moscow Ties, Restore Russian Energy Access
EU Response to Belgian PM's Call for Normalising Russia Relations
By Andrew Gray
Background: Belgian PM's Statements on Russia
BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - 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.
De Wever's comments, in an interview with Belgian newspaper L'Echo, run counter to official EU policies to maintain a hard line against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and phase out the use of Russian fossil fuels.
Controversy Within EU Leadership
De Wever also said European leaders agreed with him behind closed doors but "no one dares to say it out loud".
Kaja Kallas' Position and Warnings
Kallas, however, told Reuters in an interview in Brussels that she did not have the same impression and warned against trying to go back to business as usual with Moscow.
Inside EU Leaders' Meetings
"I've been ... behind those closed doors, when we talk about leaders' meetings, and I don't see this appetite," said Kallas, who attends gatherings of the European Council of EU heads of state and government.
Risks of Returning to 'Business as Usual'
"When we talk to Russia, of course, the most important thing is to first agree what we want to talk to them about," added Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia.
"If we just go back to business as usual, we will have more of this - more wars. We have seen this before, so we have to be very vigilant and not to actually give Russia what they want because their appetite will only grow."
Energy Market Impact and Political Reactions
Global oil prices have surged roughly 40% since the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran, climbing to their highest since 2022.
Reactions Within Belgian Government
De Wever's comments, which were published at the weekend, sparked criticism within his ruling coalition. He has since sought to play them down, saying he favours normalising relations only after a deal is struck to end the war in Ukraine.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Andrew Gray, writing by Bart Meijer and Andrew Gray, Editing by Dominique Vidalon and Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Kallas rejected calls to return to 'business as usual' with Russia, warning this risks further conflict. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •She emphasised that EU leaders behind closed doors share no appetite for warming relations with Moscow. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •De Wever’s remarks have deepened domestic tensions and contrast with EU norms to keep Russian assets frozen and cease dependence on Russian energy. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Exclusive-EU's Kallas rejects Belgian PM's call to normalise Moscow ties, get cheap Russian energy
1What did Belgian PM Bart De Wever propose regarding Russia?
He suggested normalising relations with Moscow and regaining access to cheap Russian energy.
2What is the EU's official stance on Russian energy?
The EU maintains a hard line against Russia over Ukraine and is phasing out Russian fossil fuels.
3How did Kaja Kallas respond to De Wever’s remarks?
Kallas rejected the idea, stating most EU leaders do not want to return to 'business as usual' with Moscow.
4Why does the EU resist normalising ties with Russia?
The EU is cautious, fearing a return to past behaviors could lead to more conflicts like the Ukraine war.
5Did De Wever clarify his statement on Russia?
Yes, he later said he supports normalisation only after a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
