Boris Johnson’s spokesperson says UK will not support move unless Moscow ‘ceases aggressive and destabilizing activity.’
LONDON — Any push by Donald Trump to readmit Russia to the G7 gathering of economically advanced nations would be vetoed by the U.K., Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said Monday.
Trump announced Saturday he is postponing the annual G7 summit, which was due to be hosted in the U.S. in June, until September — and plans to invite four additional non-member nations including Russia.
Speaking to journalists at a daily briefing, Johnson’s spokesperson said that while it was up to host nations to decide which countries could be invited as guests, the U.K. would not support Russia being “readmitted as a member of the group.”
Decisions on G7 membership are subject to the unanimous backing of all members. Russia was ejected from the group — previously the G8 — after its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Johnson’s spokesperson said the U.K. would not support Russia’s return to the G7 fold “unless it ceases aggressive and destabilizing activity that threatens the safety of U.K. citizens and the collective security of our allies,” adding: “We are yet to see evidence of changed behavior.”
The U.K.’s position does not rule out Russian President Vladimir Putin being invited to the summit as a guest. While it is not unusual for host nations to ask representatives of non-G7 countries to attend summits, an invitation to Putin would prove highly controversial. The U.K. has taken a particularly firm stance on Moscow since blaming Russia for the 2018 nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Salisbury, England.
Trump’s decision to postpone the G7 summit came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel declined his invitation to attend in person due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Johnson had been prepared to make the trip, Downing Street said.
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Just in—Any push by Trump to readmit Russia to the G7 would be vetoed by the U.K., Boris Johnson's official spokesperson said Monday. https://t.co/P03O0aB9gs
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) June 1, 2020
This is on you @SenateGOP — he and his puppet master would’ve been gone in early February after the impeachment if you had the courage to vote for conviction and removal. Mike Pence could have done a better job running this country. Shame on all of you (other than @MittRomney). https://t.co/szBQg5tGpn
— Jennifer Taub (@jentaub) June 1, 2020
There was a time when the United States could drive the agenda of the G7. Now Canada and the UK – rightly – have vetoed this stupid idea about #Russia. More evidence of our decline as a superpower. https://t.co/wISlh8cykk
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 1, 2020
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