German Chancellor Merkel: Russia remains a member of the G-8 Group

According to Itar-tass news agency, on March 18, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the Russian Federation is still a member of the Group of Eight (G-8).

The German Chancellor said the current situation has temporarily halted preparations by Western countries for the G-8 Summit in Sochi next June.

Russian President Putin and German Chancellor Merkel at the G20 Summit in Saint Petersburg on September 5, 2013. (Photo: AFP)

“Apart from this move, no further decisions have been made,” Ms. Merkel stressed.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini also stressed that “the structure of the G-8 is not being destroyed.”

Ms Mogherini also said an option was being discussed to send “a large delegation from the Office for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with hundreds of observers”./.

According to VNA