Russia open to rejoin G7: Medvedev

Russia is in favor of communicating with other countries at various platforms, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev gives a press conference following his meeting with Slovenia's Prime Minister Marjan Sarec. [Photo: Pool/TASS via IC/Dmitry Astakhov]

"We need to meet in various formats and discuss all existing issues," Medvedev said at a joint press conference with his Slovenian counterpart, Marjan Sarec.

He said that Russia's current relations with the European Union were at a "zero level."

Medvedev said he hoped that the new leadership of the European Commission would be ready to take measures to normalize relations, because without them "a full-fledged dialogue is still difficult."

Speaking about relations with the Group of Seven (G7) countries, and a possibility to rejoin the group of major global economies, Medvedev said that he considers the group too narrow.

According to him, without China, India and some other countries it is almost impossible to consider pressing issues of international concern.

On the contrary, the most urgent issues of the planet can be dealt with in the Group of Twenty, along with other generally universal formats, such as the United Nations, various security forums and others, he said.

However, if there is an invitation from the G7 for Russia to rejoin, it may be considered, Medvedev said.

"But once again I want to emphasize: in the modern world, such formats, limited in composition, are unable to make decisions that are essential for the development of mankind and for solving global issues that are on the agenda," he said.