Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday that restoring energy cooperation with Russia should be regarded as impossible due to security concerns, even in the context of ongoing instability in the Middle East.
Speaking at the PowerConnect conference in Gdansk, Tusk emphasized that proposals to resume routine energy ties with Moscow pose a serious threat to Western security.
“Energy and security are inseparable,” he said. “There is no question of going back to energy business with Russia.”
The Polish leader also called for unity among allied countries, stressing the need for full cooperation in maintaining energy independence from Russia.
“This is a matter of the survival of the entire Western community... And I count here not only on understanding, but also on full cooperation from our partners,” Tusk stressed.
His remarks came after Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called for Europe to normalize relations with Russia in order to re-establish affordable energy supplies.
“We are losing on all fronts, we must end the conflict in Europe’s interest,” De Wever told Belgian newspaper L’Echo on Saturday.
“At the same time, we must normalise relations with Russia and regain access to cheap energy. It is common sense.”
“In private, European leaders tell me I am right, but no one dares say it out loud,” he continued.
On Tuesday, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, hit back at the Belgian premier.
“I’ve been ... behind those closed doors, when we talk about leaders’ meetings, and I don’t see this appetite,” she told Reuters.
“When we talk to Russia, of course, the most important thing is to first agree what we want to talk to them about,” Kallas said.
“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.”
De Wever’s comments have also sparked backlash domestically within his ruling coalition.
He was rebuked by Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot, who warned on Sunday: “Today, Russia refuses a European presence at the table.”
“As long as that is the case, talking about normalisation sends a signal of weakness and undermines the European unity we need now more than ever.”
In December, De Wever came into the spotlight due to his opposition to using frozen Russian assets held in his country to fund Ukraine.