Germany rejects Trump's proposal to bring Russia back into G7

Germany rejected the proposal of US President Donald Trump to include Russia back in the G7 group, i.e. the most developed economies in the world, stated German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in a press interview. He made this conditional on a peaceful solution to the Crimea issue and the conflict in Ukraine.

Mass said in an interview with Monday's Rheinische Post that he sees no chance of inviting Russia to the G7 again until significant progress is made in resolving the conflict around Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

According to the head of German diplomacy, the chances of Russia's reintegration into the G7 depend on Russia itself and it may significantly increase them, contributing to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

Last month, Trump made a suggestion to reintegrate Russia into the G7, from which it was removed in 2014 after the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea.

Russia is now a member of the wider G20 group, which also includes the so-called emerging markets.

(PAP)