German Foreign Minister rejects Trump's idea of bringing Russia back to G7
Photo: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Getty Images)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has expressed serious concerns over US President Donald Trump's proposal to reinstate Russia in the G7, AP reports.
"As G7 partners, we have repeatedly made it clear over the last three years following this brutal Russian full-scale invasion: There can be no normal cooperation with this Russia, with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's Russia," Baerbock emphasized.
At the same time, the German Foreign Minister added that "If we all get back on the path to peace" and Russia's policy changes, then this would "of course also mean that we can resume cooperation in a wide variety of areas.."
Baerbock also stated that she welcomes any genuine step toward peace in Ukraine that may arise from Trump's attempt to initiate negotiations with Putin to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, the German Foreign Minister added that the West's strong pressure on Russia "must be maintained."
"If there is now a path to peace, then the whole world, and above all Europe, will breathe a sigh of relief," she noted.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he would like to bring Russia back into the G7 (thus returning to the G8 format). According to him, it was a mistake to exclude Russia after the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014.
