Professor Criekemans urges caution with sanctions: “We are not at war with the Russian people” | War Ukraine and Russia

Criekemans made the statement after Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) stated earlier today that we would also feel the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the Western sanctions. De Croo emphasized that there is currently no concrete threat from Russia to our country.

“That message has to be repeated continuously,” said the professor. “We are not at war with the Russian people. The federal government has announced that it will send weapons and that could have all kinds of unintended side effects. I suggest we stop communicating about that. What we do not want is for Putin to believe that a war is actually already underway with NATO. The European Union should not put all these things on the big clock.”

According to Criekemans, support must be offered to Ukraine. “But the basic message is that we are responding to a mockery of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and violation of the international legal order. The message should not be that we want regime change in Moscow. We need to regain some control over this situation, because it has gotten really out of hand.”

He thinks we should focus on three things. First, on stopping communication related to non-humanitarian aid. Second, on keeping the dialogue open. And thirdly, the fact that we are not at war with the Russian people. “Perhaps the federal government should consider helping the Russians who are currently trapped in our territory and who may have payment difficulties. That will send a message to the right people in Moscow. Because there are also people of good will there.”

Has Europe run over itself? “I hear in European diplomatic circles that there was a sudden form of triumphalism last weekend because Europe had come together regarding sanctions and aid to Ukraine. The international community is sending a clear message to Russia, but we must also be careful not to speed up Moscow’s clock because its reserves are running out.”

“Perhaps we should think again before extending our sanctions further and giving the dialogue another chance,” he added. “Because after this conflict we will have to move forward together. There is only one conclusion: that the security architecture in Europe no longer works. We need a new one and it should not be against Russia, but with Russia.”

Read all about the conflict in Ukraine in our file.

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