Germany has firmly stated that Russia will not be readmitted into the Group of Seven (G7) nations, rejecting a proposal put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies made this position clear, emphasizing that Trump’s suggestion would not achieve the unanimous agreement required for Russia’s return.
Kukies highlighted the G7’s unified stance against Russia’s aggression, particularly as the world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The G7’s condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression remains very clear, especially as we reflect on the brutal attack’s anniversary,” Kukies said.
He also confirmed that he will be traveling to Cape Town on Tuesday for the G20 meeting of finance ministers. However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Beyond the diplomatic tensions, Kukies acknowledged the need for Germany to focus on revitalizing its economy.
“We really need to re-embark on a path of economic growth. Germany has a lot of homework to do,” he added.
Kukies was appointed as finance minister by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November after the collapse of Scholz’s governing coalition. He will serve until a new government is formed following Sunday’s election, which was won by Friedrich Merz’s conservative party.
Kukies also addressed concerns about Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariff plan. If implemented, the plan would raise U.S. import tariffs to match those imposed by other countries—a move that could significantly impact the European Union’s (EU) economy.
He pointed out that while the EU maintains a trade surplus in goods exported to the United States, it is nearly balanced by a U.S. surplus in services exported to Europe.
Kukies reiterated that the G7 could explore using $300 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets in Europe to aid Ukraine’s reconstruction. However, he emphasized that these discussions are still in their early stages.
The issue of using frozen Russian assets has been a topic of ongoing debate within the G7, as member nations weigh legal and diplomatic implications.
Germany’s rejection of Russia’s return to the G7 underscores the group’s firm stance on holding Moscow accountable for its actions while addressing broader economic challenges and global trade dynamics.