Question ownership of the Crimea will never be considered as a measure of ensuring Russia's participation in any international organizations. This point of view in an interview with RT expressed the deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, Vladislav Ganzhara.
“Of course, the question of the return of Crimea to Russia somewhere and the participation of our country in any kind of international organizations, whether the G8 or something else, will never be put on the scales,” said Ganzhara.
The parliamentarian stressed that Crimea once and for all became part of Russia.
“In this regard, we are well aware that even without the G8, without participating in this format, the role of our country in the international arena is growing every year,” Ganzhara said.
Earlier, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Walker expressed the opinion that the “return” of Crimea could serve as a condition for the resumption of Russia's membership in the G8.
“In 2014, Russia was expelled from the G8 due to the annexation of Crimea. I would like to see how it all comes back. I would like to see Russia leave Crimea, and this would create excellent opportunities for renewed cooperation, ”Volcker quotes the Russian-speaking Twitter of the United States Department of State.
Recall that Crimea became the Russian region after a referendum held in March 2014, in which the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula spoke out for reunification with Russia.
Russia should not respond to such statements, says political analyst Mikhail Sinelnikov-Orishak. According to the expert, Walker does not pursue constructive purposes.
"His position, he did not hide before his appointment as Special Representative and let it adheres. And this is very inefficient, because when you appoint a special representative, you probably expect to make progress in this direction, ”an expert told RT.
“We will work in this direction”
Previously, the need to return to Russia in "Seven" expressed President Donald Trump. At a press conference on the end of the G7 summit in Biarritz in late August, the American leader said he was “doing what is right.”
“I really think that this (Russia's return to G7 . - RT ) is good for world security, it is good for the global economy,” Trump said.
Trump also said that he could invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the next G7 summit, which will be held in New York in 2020.
“Of course, the conditions are very difficult now. He was part of the G8, then he was removed. Of course, he is a very proud person. Of course, I will invite him, but I think he can not come, "- he said Trump told reporters.
- Mike Pompeo
- Reuters
- © Jonathan Ernst / Pool
Later, the US administration's intention to work on a return to the G8 format with the participation of Russia was confirmed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He stated this in an interview with Fox News. Pompeo text conversations with journalists was published on the State Department website.
Answering the question of whether to invite Russia back to the G7, Pompeo said that the president adheres to this point of view. Further, the Secretary of State commented on his attitude to this topic.
“The President believes that we should do this. I am his subordinate. Of course, we will work in this direction, ”the official said.
In turn, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with Channel One, emphasized that “in the applied plan” preparations for Putin’s visit to the summit have not yet been carried out.
“Any trip is preceded by a fairly lengthy preparation. And a visit for the sake of a visit, contact for the sake of contact, a summit for the sake of the summit is not what Putin is usually used to doing, ”said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian President, in an interview with Channel One.
As noted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow will not make any calls regarding the possibility of returning the G8 format with the participation of the Russian Federation.
“Life, in general, has gone far ahead. We, as President Putin said in Bregancon, do not shy away from contacts with countries that are part of the G-7. But the main issues are now being resolved after all, if we take the global economy and world politics, including financial, they are resolved in the "group of twenty," he said.
Ukrainian question
Other leaders of the G7 countries differed in opinion as to return to the G8 format.
According to The Guardian, during the G7 summit, Trump's position on the return of Russia to the format of all participants was supported only by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abstained. The remaining participants spoke out sharply against.
Some politicians explained their tough stance by the significance of the Ukrainian question. In particular, this was stated by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.
“G7 is a gathering of like-minded countries that positively impact the global economy. Russia's actions in Ukraine and elsewhere make it clear that it cannot be a partner of this group of like-minded countries, ”he told reporters at a press conference after the summit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out that in order to start such a discussion, you must first make progress in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
“On behalf of Germany, I made it clear that we need progress in implementing the Minsk agreements in order to restart negotiations on Russia's participation in the G7 format,” the chancellor said.
Recall that the Russian side has repeatedly indicated that it is a mediator, not a party to the conflict in Ukraine. Kiev is primarily responsible for the failure to comply with the Minsk agreements, political analyst Alexander Dudchak emphasized in an interview with RT.
“Kiev’s actions are ordinary sabotage. Kiev was not originally going to them (the Minsk agreement -. RT) perform. Minsk agreements were necessary to stop the defeat of one of the factions in the Donbas. And Kiev agreed to any promises, if only to stop the hostilities that developed not in favor of Ukraine, ”the expert says.