The idea of Russia regaining its chair in the G7 group of nations was voiced by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier ahead of two-day Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting, held April 10-11 in the city of Hiroshima. “We will see in a year if Russia maintains this constructive role and then there will certainly be a debate within the G7" Mr. Steinmeier told the German Zeit newspaper.
While nothing is written in stone, the follow-up discussion, held in Hiroshima, revealed that G7 still finds itself in no position to abandon its former policy on Russia. “Of course, we discussed the issue of the EU sanctions against Russia. The issue of sanctions should be studied after the progress in implementation of the Minsk Agreements. There are no grounds to say now that the sanctions should be lifted, if we see no progress," – said Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France Jean-Marc Ayrault.
No surprise that this position was rebuffed by Moscow.
"Why do we have to go to the G7, where the United States is in charge and other countries assent? There is a united front against Russia there», Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee told Vesti FM radio broadcasting. "In current position Russia doesn't need to be part of G7. The organization needs to be reformed," added Mr. Pushkov.
Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann, founder of the online political magazine globalo.com(Berlin) and Andrei Kortunov, General Director of the Russia’s Council for International Relations commented on the issue.
