Many issues of international politics can’t be handled without Russia, the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote.
"International challenges in the fields of terrorism, climate, environment or trade can hardly be managed effectively in the long run if Moscow remains sidelined," the newspaper wrote.
Although German Chancellor considers it impossible to return to the format of the G8 until Russia "does not recognize the foundations of international law," many people in Germany are skeptical about such policy of isolation.
Thus, German political expert, Professor Eberhard Schneider said that dialogue with Russia is essential to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
“Seven industrialized countries decided to temporarily exclude Russia from this club after the annexation of Crimea. This is one position. On the other hand, it is necessary to talk with Russia, if we want to get the situation in Ukraine off the ground," said Professor Eberhard Schneider, a member of the German-Russian Forum.
Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt also stated that the group G7 does not make sense without Russia’s participation.
A few days earlier, representatives of the German economy also criticized the exclusion of Russia from G8 format, the German newspaper Die Welt wrote. Thus, the head of the Eastern Committee of German Economy Eckhard Cordes argued that the unwillingness to use G7 as a platform for dialogue with Russia is a "missed opportunity" to set up a constructive dialogue between both parties.
According to Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Dzhentiloni, different positions of Russia and European countries with regard to the Ukrainian crisis should not lead to the "freezing" of mutual relations.
