Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claimed in a speech in Sochi on Wednesday that Belgium exists thanks to Russia.
"Belgium appeared on the world map as an independent state thanks in large part to Russia and its position," he stated at the opening of the World Youth Festival in Sochi.
This was in response to a remark made by a Belgian attendee at the event. However, the Russian President did not further explain the connection between Russia and Belgian independence.
Of course, the claim is demonstrably false. At the time of the Belgian Revolution Russia supported the Netherlands and even offered to send troops to support the Dutch crown against Belgian rebels.
In the end, Russia opted not to because it was violently suppressing the November Uprising, a Polish rebellion against the Russian empire.
This is not the first time that Vladimir Putin has made remarks of this kind – as he continues to try and rewrite European history according to his own Russian nationalist agenda.
Three days before the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Russian President falsely said in a speech that Ukraine "was entirely created by Russia".
Last weekend, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated that Belgium has expelled "dozens of so-called Russian diplomats" who were "clearly spies" from the country in recent months.
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