Kremlin Responds to G7 Summit Presence for Russia

The Kremlin has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that it is "quite likely" he will invite his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to attend the upcoming G7 summit in the United States, according to lenta.ru.

“President Putin has already stated at a press conference that if such an invitation is extended, Russia will definitely consider it,” said Vladimir Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president.

Previously, authorities from Canada and Germany opposed the idea of Russia returning to the group.

The G7 summit this year is set to take place from August 24 to 26 in Biarritz, France. It is worth mentioning that the G7 is a coalition of economically developed countries, which includes Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, France, Germany, and Japan. The group operated in a G7 format from 1976 to 1997. After Russia's membership, it was renamed the G8.

In March 2014, following events in Ukraine and the ensuing deterioration in relations between the U.S. and Europe with Russia, G7 members excluded Russia and reverted to the G7 format.