Russian invasion The world's response

Belgium wants to see the EU strengthen ties with Russia again

The EU must normalize relations with Russia in order to gain access to cheap energy. This is what Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever tells the Belgian newspaper L'Echo.

- It's common sense, he says.

De Wever leads the nationalist N-VA and has previously questioned the EU's support for Ukraine. He believes that European leaders agree with him, but that no one "dare to say it out loud".

Due to the war in Iran, fuel prices have risen sharply, which has led to political debate about energy supplies in several European countries. On Wednesday, EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels, among other things to discuss Ukraine and Iran.

EU foreign policy chief: It is dangerous to ease sanctions

It is not good that the US has temporarily lifted certain sanctions on Russian oil, says EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

– We need Russia to have less money to wage war, not more, she says.

The Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have led to sharply increased fuel prices, and on Monday the EU will meet in Brussels to talk about the war.

Kallas emphasizes that the Ukraine war must not be forgotten when the world's eyes are on Iran.
 

The world's response
EU sources: Peace talks about to run out of steam – Trump's interest is cooling

US President Donald Trump is losing interest in the Ukraine war, according to European diplomatic sources that the Financial Times has spoken to. This means that the US-led peace process risks running out of steam.

– The Middle East has caused political attention to be redirected. For us and for Ukraine, it is a disaster, says an EU diplomat.

EU countries have been informed that US arms deliveries, especially air defense, will be delayed because Washington is prioritizing deliveries to the Middle East, diplomats say.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, says that there is competition for the same resources.

– Right now, the US's attention is clearly focused on the Middle East.

The last trilateral talks were held in Geneva a month ago. Planned talks have since been postponed due to the Iran war. No new date has been communicated.