A successful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and Russian cooperation with the West on Syria could lead to its return to the ranks of the G8, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated in an interview with Bild.
"If we continue to be able to successfully overcome the obstacles in resolving the Ukrainian conflict, and if Russia will continue, just like until now, to work with us to resolve the Syrian conflict, the West will not have and will not be able to have a long-term interest in excluding Russia from the regular discussion between the leading Western powers," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
"We were never interested in isolating Russia or turning the G8 into the G7 for a long time. This decision was taken after the annexation of Crimea undermined our trust," the Foreign Minister stressed.
