Kremlin says Russia will not to rejoin G-7

Moscow, July 29 (RHC)-- Russia has no plan to rejoin the Group of Seven (G-7) given its satisfaction with the Group of 20, according to a statement from the Kremlin.  Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin had neither put forward any initiatives, nor made any requests or any action to revive Russian participation in G-7.

He made the remarks in response to a statement of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who said that Germany had rejected a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to invite Russia back into the G-7 Group.

Peskov stressed that Russia is very satisfied with the G-20's effectiveness because the group probably better meets modern economic realities from the point of view of economic development centers in the world.

The spokesman also said that the G-7 lacks global significance because it excludes China, India, Brazil, Turkey and other countries.

On the same day, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on his social media platform that the old Group of Eight (G-7 with Russia in) is an “obsolete platform” for Russia and it is unnecessary for Russia to return to it.  He said nothing can be discussed without having China or other countries at the table as the world is undergoing profound changes.

"Considering the existence of the G-20 and other international frameworks, the G-7 value is highly dubious," he said.

Russia was part of the G-8 along with Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, but its membership was terminated over Crimea in 2014.

Last month, Trump expressed his intention to expand the G-7 to invite leaders of Russia, India, Australia and South Korea to the annual summit, which he has postponed until September.