G7 leaders believe it is too early for Russia to return

August 26, 2019 (belsat.eu) The leaders of the G7 countries discussed Russia’s return to the group during he recent Biarritz summit. According to the AFP, politicians came to the conclusion that it is “too soon” to do so, the agency reported with reference to diplomatic sources.

Meanwhile, BNN Bloomberg reports that Trump said in Biarritz that it is “certainly possible” to invite Putin to the summit next year.Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly spoke about the possibility of Russia’s return to the “Big Seven”. This week, in particular, he noted that Russia’s return would be an appropriate solution, as the group is discussing, among other things, issues related to Russia. On August 21, CNN reported, citing sources that Trump and French President Emmanuelle Macron had agreed to invite Putin to the G7 summit in 2020. Later, however, Macron denied saying this, noting that Russia’s return is possible only after the Ukrainian crisis is resolved. On the eve of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk criticized Trump’s proposal to invite Russia to the G7. Tusk said he would try to convince the G7 leaders that it is better to invite the Ukrainian president to the next meeting instead.

The G7 includes the USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Canada. Russia was expelled from the G8 after the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the war in Donbas.