'Undiluted fascist': Belgian PM takes aim at Putin in State of the Union

In his State of the Union address, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo lashed out sharply at Russian President Vladimir Putin. He called Putin "an undiluted fascist" and reiterated that Belgium will not abandon Ukraine.

Before elaborating on the government's plans for the coming year, Belgian Prime Minister De Croo addressed the Russian war in Ukraine on Tuesday. De Croo referred to Russia's rocket attacks in various crowded urban areas in Ukraine on Monday. "They leave no doubt about the barbarity of the regime," De Croo stated.

The Belgian prime minister lashed out firmly at the Russian president in unambiguous words.

De Croo called Putin "a belligerent and dangerous man in Moscow, an ultra-nationalist bent on undermining our Western way of life, an undiluted fascist who measures the greatness of his own country by the downfall of the other."

De Croo promised that Belgium will continue to stand by the Ukrainian people. "Belgium will not abandon Ukraine. We will continue to support you. We will not let you down. Ukraine will win this war," De Croo concluded.

In the conclusion of his speech, De Croo returned to the topic of war and drew comparisons with the Nazi regime.

"The war in Ukraine shows the bankruptcy of the absolute nation-state that must bring salvation for all. One people, one empire, one leader, where else have we heard that?", he stated, adding that the war in Ukraine forces all democrats to choose between being closed off and embracing openness. 

(KOR)

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during his State of the Union address at the Federal Parliament in Brussels on October 11, 2022 © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND