Merz Rejects Russia’s Return to G8 – Rezazade

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made it clear that Russia’s return to the G8 is currently impossible, even though such a clause is included in Donald Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine. According to him, none of the six G7 members, except the United States, is willing to discuss such a scenario.

“I don’t see any willingness among the six current G7 members to accept Russia back into this group,” Merz said after the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

French President Emmanuel Macron also stressed the day before that “there are no grounds for Russia’s return to the G8.”

During his first presidential term, Trump actively lobbied for Russia’s return to the club of the world’s largest democracies, but he faced resistance from his European allies. Now this position is becoming even tougher - against the backdrop of the ongoing war and systemic war crimes of the Russian Federation.

The first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, international expert Ali Reza Rezazade, emphasizes that the refusal of Berlin and Paris actually demonstrates the rejection of a key provision of the Trump plan.

“Merz’s position is a signal to Washington that Europe will not allow the G7 to be used as a tool of the political game. Russia’s return to the G8 would mean legitimizing the aggressor, and this is unacceptable for Europe. Germany and France clearly show: even an alliance with the United States cannot jeopardize European security,” Rezazadeh explains.

According to him, in this context it becomes obvious that Trump’s concept of a “peaceful settlement” contradicts the interests of European states.

“European leaders will not support any plan in which Russia receives bonuses. Trump is trying to return to the logic of 2017-2021, but the world has changed. After Bucha, Mariupol and thousands of Russian crimes, the idea of ​​restoring the G8 can no longer be part of realistic diplomacy,” the expert notes.

Rezazade emphasizes that Merz’s decision and Macron’s position increase the isolation of the Russian Federation, and also reduce Trump’s chances of imposing his vision of a future agreement with Moscow on Europe.

“Europe is demonstrating strategic autonomy. And this is important: when the US is betting on tough realpolitik, Europe insists on principles. That is why the idea of ​​Russia’s return to the G8 is not just frozen — it is politically dead,” Rezazade concludes.