MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Russia does not need to take part in the G8 group, as the country’s interests are fully protected via its participation in other international platforms, Oleg Karpovich, deputy rector of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, told TASS.
"The current state of world politics is marked by significant tensions, particularly due to the change in the US administration. There have been serious shifts in relations among the countries of the collective West," Karpovich stated. "All proposals for Russia's return to the G8 are ambiguous. Since 2014, Russia has not participated in the G8, and nothing catastrophic has occurred; the sky is not falling."
In his opinion, there are alternative platforms available to address a wide range of issues in the current context. "These include the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS," he noted. "BRICS has long surpassed the G7 in all economic metrics. Some leaders in the collective West are beginning to realize that it is simply impossible to resolve a multitude of issues, particularly concerning European and Eurasian security, without Russia, which has proven itself to be a great power."
"No matter how much the countries of the collective West have attempted to isolate Russia or strangle it with economic sanctions and other illegitimate measures, these efforts have been utterly ineffective," he asserted. "In a word, speculation about the G8 reflects an acknowledgment that Russia has managed to persevere, and attempts at isolation have failed."
"We have a variety of regional organizations that offer ample opportunities for Russia to address political, economic, humanitarian, and cultural issues. We actively participate in all these organizations," Karpovich concluded. "There is simply no need for participation in the G8."