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Roundup: European Council revs up pressure on Russia at G7 summit

Xinhua, June 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Council on Sunday revved up its pressure on Russia as leaders of the seven industrialized countries are gathering at the Group of Seven (G7) summit.

Speaking at a press conference at the summit, which is held in Schloss Elmau, some 10 kilometers from here, the European Council President Donald Tusk said the leaders would discuss sanctions on Russia.

"So let me state clearly, given the current situation, if anyone wants to start a debate about changing the sanctions regime, the discussion could only be about strengthening it," Tusk uttered.

Tusk's remarks came after the EU decided to extend the economic sanctions against Russia which are due to expire in July. Tusk said in March that the sanctions would not be lifted unless the Minsk ceasefire agreement was fully implemented. Clashes were reported in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, leaving 28 people dead.

In an interview with an Italian newspaper published on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the Ukrainian government for its reluctance to talk with insurgents.

He called for the full and unconditional implementation of the new Minsk agreement, because "there is no other way to settle the conflict today." There is no need for the West to fear Russia, he said.

In February, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement in Minsk, capital of Belarus, which included a ceasefire from Feb. 15, clear timelines for elections in eastern Ukraine, border control and prisoner exchange.

The evident violations of the Minsk agreement have cast shadows on the relationship between EU and Russia. Russia became the eighth member of the industrialized countries' club called G8 in 1998.

The seven countries boycotted the proposed G8 summit scheduled to be held in Sochi of Russia in June last year. Instead, the leaders of the seven countries met in Brussels at a two-day G7 summit.

Commenting on the absence of Russia at the summit here, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wanted good ties with the participation of Russia and at the moment it is inconceivable for Russia to rejoin the group, according to the DPA.

Ruan Zongze, Vice President of China Institute of International Studies, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the expulsion of Russia from the G8 shattered Russia's illusion of getting integrated into the West. Ruan thought it is not possible to Russia to rejoin the group.

The G7 has been increasingly less important in tackling global issues, Ruan explained. Given that the G7 will continue to pressurize Russia on the Ukraine issue, it's difficult to improve the relationship between the West and Russia, he added.

The DPA quoted the former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt as saying that his expectations were limited for the G7 summit without the participation of Russia. Endit