OREANDA-NEWS. Russia does not want to return to the G7, there are no prospects for this format, said Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. The format of the «Big Eight» has existed since 1998. In 2014, it was reduced to the G7, when, against the background of the events in the Crimea, the club members decided not to go to the next summit to Sochi, but gathered without Russia in Brussels. In 2020, Donald Trump, as president of the United States, said, that the presence of Russia in the G7 requires common sense.

«We do not take part in it, because we were blocked at some point. And there is no particular desire to return there now. Not even because we are offended, sulked and believe, that all this is not necessary, but simply because of the weak legitimacy of such discussions. Well, we discussed economic issues, but there are major players, that are not included in the «seven» – India, China, we are also a fairly serious player in the economic world. But we don't discuss it with them – what's the point?», Medvedev said.

As for other formats, in his opinion, they can be useful, in particular, the G20 created after 2008 helped to overcome the economic crisis. «Now, probably, even the G20 is not a place, where all interests can fit, because there are other formats: BRICS, SCO and our integration associations like the EurAsEC», the deputy chairman of the Security Council said.