Russia not desperate for G8, thinks G20 format is more efficient — Kremlin spokesman

Russia is not desperate to be back in the Group of Eight, the more so because many problems can be resolved more efficiently within the Group of Twenty format, Russian president’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, TASS reports.

"Return to the G7, the former G8, is not a goal in itself for Russia," he stressed. "In any case, Russia thinks that now it is not very efficient to discuss global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India."

"So, other formats, for instance, the Group of Twenty, look more advantageous," he noted, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said that Moscow was ready to cooperate with other states in any formats.