The key facts
- Sergey Lavrov said Russia does not need to return to the G8 in exchange for 'good behavior' on Ukraine
- According to the minister, the West admits the possibility of gradually lifting sanctions and Moscow's return to the 'Group of Eight' if it changes its policy
- Lavrov noted that Russia intends to focus on the Eurasian direction
Lavrov rejected returning to the 'Group of Eight'
Russia is not interested in returning to the 'Group of Eight' (G8) in exchange for concessions on the Ukrainian issue. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting with young diplomats who had newly entered the service. According to him, Moscow has drawn the necessary lessons from its relations with Western countries and intends to focus on the Eurasian direction.
The West's conditions and Moscow's position
According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, the West admits the possibility of gradually lifting anti-Russian sanctions and restoring Moscow's participation in the G8 on the condition that it changes its policy toward Ukraine. However, Lavrov emphasized, Russia does not need such offers. 'Now they say that, allegedly, if Russia behaves well with Ukraine, then, among other things, the sanctions will gradually be lifted and it will be returned to the 'Group of Eight.' We don't need that,' Life.ru quotes the minister as saying.
A shift in foreign policy priorities
Lavrov noted that the experience of previous decades forced Russian politicians to reconsider their approaches to international cooperation. In his opinion, priority attention must now be given to developing relations in Eurasia. The minister also referred to the symbolism of the Russian coat of arms, noting that the double-headed eagle embodies Russia's position between two parts of the world.
Context: the exit from the G8 and earlier statements
Russia stopped participating in the G8 in 2014 after the events around Crimea. Since then, the group has continued its activities in the 'Group of Seven' format, which includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Earlier, according to Life.ru, Lavrov described Russia as an unequal partner of Western countries in the G8: according to him, the most important financial decisions were made by the 'Seven' participants separately, after which the Russian side was merely informed of agreements already reached. Lavrov also previously stated that the West will no longer 'call the tune' in the world.
