EnergyPolitics Belgium views the concept of resuming power cooperation with Russia as unrealistic. Thursday, April 17, 2025

Any efforts to return to this commerce relationship are unfounded, mentioned Belgian Vitality Minister Mathieu Bihet, commenting on the rising calls in Europe to restart power imports from Russia amid diplomatic efforts to finish the warfare in Ukraine.

“It’s odd to suppose we will merely revert to our traditional relations with Russia, performing as if nothing has occurred,” he remarked, describing such discussions as disconnected from actuality.

Bihet affirmed that Belgium is devoted to lowering its dependence on Russian power sources. Specifically, Brussels is steadily reducing imports of Russian LNG, though it at the moment doesn’t help an entire ban. Belgium stays one of many largest importers of Russian LNG within the EU, with 1.1 million tons imported since January.

“We’re financing a warfare. We should flip off the faucets,” Bihet emphasised.

He famous that resuming Russian gasoline pipeline operations requires a preliminary decision of a number of key points, together with attaining peace, respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and guaranteeing stability.