Germany warns against Russia exclusion from G8

Foreign minister in Berlin says West should not sacrifice the only platform that enables dialogue

By AFP 2 March 2014, 10:43 pm

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A soldier rests atop a Russian armored personnel carrier with a road sign reading "Sevastopol - 32 kilometers, Yalta - 70 kilometers", near the town of Bakhchisarai, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Ivan Sekretarev)

BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday warned against excluding Russia from the prestigious Group of Eight leading industrialized countries in reaction to Moscow’s role in the tensions rocking Ukraine.

His comment came after US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Moscow it risked losing its G8 seat over the Ukraine crisis.

“The G8 panel is the only panel where we Westerners talk directly to Russia, so should we really sacrifice this only panel?” Steinmeier said on public German television ARD.

Steinmeier said heads of government would debate the issue this week, but cautioned against any steps that could worsen the crisis.

“I think we must see how to contribute to a de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine,” he said.

Unlike the United States and Russia, Germany — Europe’s biggest economy — is not among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Kerry said Sunday Washington and its G8 allies were prepared to slap sanctions on Moscow, warning of damage to billions of dollars in trade and investment in Russia as well as possible visa bans.

Britain and France earlier announced they would suspend their participation in preparatory talks to be held before a planned G8 summit in Sochi in June.

The United States warned Friday that President Barack Obama and other European leaders could snub the Sochi summit altogether if they judge Russia is usurping Ukraine’s sovereignty.