Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7 - foreign minister

[webfact]

Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7 - foreign minister

 

FILE PHOTO: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, Greece, July 21, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has rejected a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin back into the Group of Seven (G7) most advanced economies, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a newspaper interview published on Monday.

 

Trump raised the prospect last month of expanding the G7 to again include Russia, which had been expelled in 2014 following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

 

But Maas told Rheinische Post that he did not see any chance for allowing Russia back into the G7 as long as there was no meaningful progress in solving the conflict in Crimea as well as in eastern Ukraine.

 

Russia itself could make the biggest contribution to becoming part of the G7 format again by contributing to a peaceful solution in the Ukraine conflict, Maas said.

 

Russia is still part of the G20, a broader grouping including other emerging-market economies.

 

"G7 and G20 are two sensibly coordinated formats. We don't need G11 or G12 anymore," Maas said in reference to Trump's proposal to invite not only Russia, but other countries to G7 meetings.

 

Maas described the relationship with Russia as "currently difficult" in many areas. "But we also know that we need Russia to solve conflicts such as those in Syria, Libya and Ukraine. That will not work against Russia, but only with Russia."

 

Germany, which took over the rotating six-month EU presidency on July 1, has taken on a mediating role in the conflict in Libya as well as in Ukraine.

"But Russia also has to make its contribution, which is very slow in Ukraine," Maas said.

 

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-27

 

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[Tug]

Good for you Germany at least someone is holding Putin accountable the USA will be joining you rite after we change management here

[metisdead]

A conspiracy post has been removed.

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Maas described the relationship with Russia as "currently difficult" in many areas. "

..

but no problem for Germany when it comes to importing Russian gas via the Nordstream 2 pipeline...talk about rank hypocrisy...

[olfu]

Russia is advanced country?

 

Learning something new every day.

[OneMoreFarang]

Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7 - foreign minister

 

There is a shorter version:

Germany rejects Trump

 

[englishoak]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Good for you Germany at least someone is holding Putin accountable the USA will be joining you rite after we change management here

Accountable for what exactly, Being Russian ?

[rabas]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Maas described the relationship with Russia as "currently difficult" in many areas. "But we also know that we need Russia to solve conflicts such as those in Syria, Libya and Ukraine. That will not work against Russia, but only with Russia."

Conflicts largely due to Russia to begin with. That's how Russia/Putin work across the globe. Been that way for six decades.

 

Do you really believe Kim Jung Un with his isolated, stone age country has the ability to design and manufacture state of the art thermonuclear hydrogen bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles on his own? No, he doesn't.

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by rabas

[Chomper Higgot]

48 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

President Trump working hard for ex KGB Vlad Putin, the man accused of putting bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan. 

 

 

 

And look who thinks that’s a laughing matter.

[Chomper Higgot]

At last, someone willing to put a stop to Trump doing Russia’s bidding.

[Tug]

51 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

..

but no problem for Germany when it comes to importing Russian gas via the Nordstream 2 pipeline...talk about rank hypocrisy...

Oh I don’t know just trying to be cost effective to keep their country running but I’d sure have another source Lined up Incase Putin gets nasty

[nobodysfriend]

If you want to solve conflicts , you have to talk to ALL parties involved .

 

[DoctorG]

Hold your friends close, and your enemies even closer (paraphrased).

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump raised the prospect last month of expanding the G7 to again include Russia,

Another attempt at quid pro quo with Russia to help him in the election. 

[stevenl]

16 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Ultra feminist Merkel, promoter of von der Leyen and the incompetent Kramp-Karrenbauer, always disliked Putin and was never able to build the rapport that Gerhard Schroeder had with Putin.

 

This despite the fact that the gas pipeline is a vital interest of Germany.

 

Maas is just an incompetent puppet clown who doesn't know his back from his elbow. Another joke in a hopeless cabinet that includes the total idiot Jens Spahn who lives with his husband Daniel Funke.

 

German politicians are among the lowest international politics can offer today.

Thanks for the local gossip. Anything of substance to add?

[Srikcir]

As Trump has withdrawn from almost every international organization that doesn't bend to his will, it wouldn't surprise me if he begins to threaten to withdraw from the (now) G7 and try to create a new council including Russia.

[metisdead]

Some more off topic trolling/deflection posts have been removed.

 

A grammar police post has been removed.

 

Forum Netiquette
 
3. If possible please proofread your post first, poor grammar and spelling can make the post difficult to understand. However be aware that not every member is a native English speaker and excessive posts regarding others spelling and grammar not only hijacks the topic but is poor netiquette.

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

Some nations still possess a moral barometer. Not the US. Not anymore. Trump continues to coddle his dictator buddies. He appears to be putting pressure on them in public. And behind the scenes he supports them, all the way.

 

Only three months to go, before his humiating defeat. Can't wait. 

[Enzian]

2 hours ago, olfu said:

Russia is advanced country?

 

Learning something new every day.

I was in Russia for three weeks a couple of years ago, and it's easy to see how some in the west can be condescending toward that society. There are a lot of people living on the margin, it's socially conservative to an almost absurd degree, the Russian mafia is not hard to spot (as well as the taxi drivers all being crooks, something I hate in a country), you're aware that Big Brother is always right behind you even if you don't see him, and so on. 

But they've got the weapons, and they've got the scientists. And they have their own view of the Crimea, which needs to be engaged, not dismissed.

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

Last time I looked, Trump had been investigated very thoroughly by Dr R.Mueller and had been given a clean bill of health.

 

It's truly sad that Mr Higgot continues to blindly pursue this incoherent hatred of Trump.

No, he has not been given a clean bill of health.

[metisdead]

Off topic trolling posts and replies about the Mueller report, etc have been removed. 

[Chomper Higgot]

Anyhow, Merkel has put a stop to Trump’s attempt to do this particular favor for Putin.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Germany might have done Trump and Mitch McConnell a favor in putting a stop to Trump’s attempt to do this favor for Putin.

 

Mitch McConnell was adamant in his statement that Russia should not join the G7, without German refusal Trump was heading for a face off with McConnell.

 

Germany has negated that, at least for the time being.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Chomper Higgot

[Bundooman]

4 hours ago, englishoak said:

Accountable for what exactly, Being Russian ?

World-wide interference in multi-national elections.

Chemical/Biological weapon use in the UK and at least 2 other countries. "Englishoak" and you don't know that?

Partial responsibility for enabling Trump to become President.

Human rights issues on a huge scale within and without Russia.

Invading and occupying countries to silence them.

With-holding a Pi**ing video, (Haha).

Vodkia.

Holidaying in Phuket, you name it - Russia's responsible!

 

 

[blazes]

52 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Germany might have done Trump and Mitch McConnell a favor in putting a stop to Trump’s attempt to do this favor for Putin.

 

Mitch McConnell was adamant in his statement that Russia should not join the G7, without German refusal Trump was heading for a face off with McConnell.

 

Germany has negated that, at least for the time being.

 

 

oooo, what a clever idea....but spoken as usual with a monumental arrogance that pretends to see into the future!!!!

[Logosone]

Just now, johnnybangkok said:

Fine. If you personally don't like Merkel then of course that's your prerogative but to try and brand her decision making process as being purely 'feminism' based is spurious at best, mysogynistic at worse.

Personally I've always liked Merkel. She has always come across to me as a calming influence in a sea of EU storms and certainly has guided German well both economically and to low unemployment. She bravely took in over 1 million regugees and although not without it's issues, it's been universally seen as a success and a blueprint for other nations. 

And even though you go on about her hatred of Putin, that hasn't prevented her from putting Germany's interests at heart. After Russia cut off gas supplies to Belarus in 2007 (which carried the main pipeline to Europe), Merkel got assurances that Putin’s pipeline politics would not affect the EU's or Germany's energy supply and also got a new EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, acceleration of a gas pipeline construction to Germany under the Baltic Sea, construction of an oil pipeline leading to Russia's Pacific Coast and establishment of a gas reservoir in Germany, adding a new distribution center for Russian gas. https://www.thebalance.com/germany-s-economy-3306346

Not bad for a woman only basing her opinions on feminism.

  

Yes, I'm sure her insistence on putting von der Leyen at the head of the EU and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer at the head of the CDU has nothing to do with her decision-making process being guided by feminism. Please.

 

Merkel has failed at the time of need, the Robert Koch Institute warned in 2012 of a coronavirus pandemic, she did not prepare the country at all. The worst, she benefits from the competent response of German doctors.

 

And Merkel hasn't done anything to advance Nordstream 2, a project which advances largely thanks to Russian and German corporate efforts.

 

As for taking in 1 million Syrians and others you may want to ask the German woman that was gang-raped by ten Syrians, recently convicted, if that was such a great idea:

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53517022

[Logosone]

And compare this insulting, cold sabotage on behalf of Merkel with the warm, excellent relationship Gerhard Schroeder and Putin had.

 

A lost chance for Germany, thanks to having this feminist East German provincial in office.

 

Russia belongs at the big table. This discrimination of Russia and Russians has to stop.

 

Well done Trump for making an effort.

[blazes]

6 minutes ago, Logosone said:

And compare this insulting, cold sabotage on behalf of Merkel with the warm, excellent relationship Gerhard Schroeder and Putin had.

 

A lost chance for Germany, thanks to having this feminist East German provincial in office.

 

Russia belongs at the big table. This discrimination of Russia and Russians has to stop.

 

Well done Trump for making an effort.

 

Agreed. 

(But remember that on ThaiVisa there are all too many who share the MSM's loathing of Trump, partly cos he's Trump, but partly because they take the side of all these Washington hangers-on whose livelihood depends on having an administration (doesn't matter whether GOP or DEM) that wants "business as usual"....which means having Russia as the "enemy" that justifies all the military expenditure that keeps the machine humming.  Almost by definition, rational analysis of American policy is impossible when so much personal stuff is at stake.)

[Phoenix Rising]

48 minutes ago, Logosone said:

A direct Merkel quote about Putin and Russia:

 

"I understand why he has to do this — to prove he's a man," Merkel said. "He's afraid of his own weakness."

 

"Russia has nothing, no successful politics or economy. All they have is this."

 

Imagine the leader of Germany saying of a country like Russia, which has one of the most powerful militaries in the world that Germany can only dream about, which has a literature that is the envy of most countries, that invented ballet, the periodic table, it "has nothing". What an insult to one of the great cultural agents of modernity. Shocking ignorance by this East German provincial pastor's offspring.

 

Or that to be manly is a sign of weakness, typical feminist inversion of facts.

 

The woman is an ignorant feminist fool.

Your incessant harping about Merkel's "ultra feminism" says a lot about you, and believe me when I tell you that none of it is good.

 

"Imagine the leader of Germany saying of a country like Russia, which has one of the most powerful militaries in the world that Germany can only dream about......"

Really??? Germany (with it's WW1/WW2 history) should look up to Russia because it's got a strong military? Do I really have to point out how otherworldly (I'm being very polite here) your claim is?

 

"What an insult to one of the great cultural agents of modernity."

Is that so? Russia, under Putin?? You must have a weird definition of the word "modernity"

 

"Shocking ignorance by this East German provincial pastor's offspring."

Is that the world's lamest attempt at an insult? Where's the insulting part? That she happened to be born in East Germany or that she happened to be born the daughter of a "provincial pastor"? Or is it the daughter part that galls you?

 

To be perfectly honest I believe that you are a Russian troll. Considering your fervent support of Russia and Trump it's hard to come to any other conclusion.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Phoenix Rising

[Phoenix Rising]

8 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

Agreed. 

(But remember that on ThaiVisa there are all too many who share the MSM's loathing of Trump, partly cos he's Trump, but partly because they take the side of all these Washington hangers-on whose livelihood depends on having an administration (doesn't matter whether GOP or DEM) that wants "business as usual"....which means having Russia as the "enemy" that justifies all the military expenditure that keeps the machine humming.  Almost by definition, rational analysis of American policy is impossible when so much personal stuff is at stake.)

Yes, all of us take the side of the Washington establishment because we just love the lobbyists and the whole stinking money-politics connection.

If that's your idea of a rational analysis I'm afraid you just disproved your point.