German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said that she sees no possibility for Russia to return to the Group of Seven industrialized countries in the foreseeable future. This was reported by the DPA news agency.
“Of course, it is very painful that Russia has excluded itself from this circle by annexing Crimea,” Baerbock said.
“At the moment it is impossible to foresee when Russia will be able to return to this group – the current escalation does not make things any easier,” she said.
“After Russia’s aggressive actions in 2014, it was right to make it clear that the economic policy agenda cannot simply be continued on this basis,” the German foreign minister added.
The G7 consists of the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Germany will take over the G7 presidency from the UK on 1 January.
The highlight of the German presidency will be the G7 summit at Elmau Castle in the Bavarian Alps from 26-28 June.