EU: Russia should not yet be allowed to rejoin G7

European Union on Tuesday joined a growing chorus of members of Group of Seven major ecomic powers to insist that Russia must t be allowed back into fold, after U.S. President Donald Trump said that he plans to invite country to a G7 summit next fall.

G7 members are Cana, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States, while 27-nation EU, world’s biggest tring bloc, also takes part.

Russia was suspended in 2014 from n G8 following its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that Russia should t be allowed back in until it “changes course and environment allows for G8 again to have a meaningful discussion, and this is t currently case.”

Borrell said that it’s up to Trump, as G7 chair, “to issue guest invitations, and guest invitations reflect host priorities. But changing membership, or changing format on a permanent basis, is t prerogative of G7 chair.”

Borrell said G7 members “sit toger because y share values, interests and commitments,” and he insisted that given coronavirus pandemic, “cooperation among like-minded partners is crucial, even more in such difficult times.”

Trump said Saturday that he is postponing next month’s G7 summit, and plans to invite Russia, Australia, South Korea and India when it does take place.

Trump said he feels current makeup of group is “very outdated”.