Belgium's Prime Minister states that Putin is setting goals in Europe that supplement or replace those concerning Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin continues to pursue his aggressive plans. Russia possesses the economic capacity to sustain a war for several years.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo made this statement, as reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing his remarks during the "Ukrainian Breakfast" in Davos.

"We firmly believe that Putin wants to regroup and may be looking to set a different objective for his actions in addition to or as a replacement for Ukraine," he stated.

De Croo pointed out that over three years of war, Russia has not achieved any of its strategic goals, and the Russian economy has been significantly weakened.

According to him, gas and liquefied gas should play a major role in the 16th sanctions package. Fertilizers will also be discussed, as the export of fertilizers from Russia has actually increased compared to the pre-war period.

"We see that the Russian economy is weakening, but our analysis indicates that they are still prepared to continue the war for at least a few more years," he said.

De Croo mentioned that discussions about peace negotiations can take place. "But honestly tell me, shouldn’t we first strengthen Ukraine before moving on to peace talks? We need to ensure that the Russian Federation is not a threat to the EU or other countries in the world. Therefore, my conclusion is this: First, we must aim for long-term sanctions. Secondly, we should not overturn tables during discussions. I truly believe that we need to bolster Ukraine first, and then we will see what to do next," said the Belgian Prime Minister.

Recall that the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas refuted Trump's statement that Europe is allegedly not providing enough support to Ukraine. According to her, EU assistance has reached 134 billion euros, making the continent the largest international donor.