Ukraine must first win war and then ask for security guarantees – Belgian PM

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo believes that Ukraine must first achieve victory in its war with Russia before discussions on security guarantees can take place.

Source: De Croo on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels on 18 December, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Answering journalists' questions about the possible establishment of a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine, the Belgian leader stressed that the priority should be to help Ukraine defeat Russia.

"First of all, Ukrainians need to win the war. Let's not inverse the sequence: first, win the war, push back the Russians. Then, of course, nothing is excluded. I think we need to be quite open [that] if at some point the war is won (by Ukraine) and Ukraine has been able to push back the Russians, everyone will have to play [their] role to maintain peace and provide tangible security guarantees," he said.

However, De Croo believes it is early to discuss the deployment of EU peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.

"Please, the first discussion is how can Ukraine win the war. How can [the] peace be maintained afterwards, and what is necessary for that. But I think that having a discussion today about 'boots on the ground' is inversing the sequence, which is not the right thing," he told reporters.

Background: De Croo also said he sees no signs that the US will withdraw its support for Ukraine.

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