Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses Russia’s position on global economic forums during his visit to India in 2025 (Photo: ANI)
India-Russia 2025 Summit: During his two-day visit to India, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to a question on Russia's stand on global economic forums, making it very clear that Moscow was not looking for a return to the G8. Putin elaborated that forums like BRICS, the SCO and the G20 better reflected today's geopolitical and economic realities.
He said that his absence from G8 meetings began well before the conflict in Ukraine-once he had won the presidential election in 2012. According to him, the G8 is becoming increasingly irrelevant and it is no longer representative of the leading economies of the world. Nevertheless, he recognized that the G8 was still an active format where discussions and decisions continued.
Putin objected to the belief that the G7 is representative of the world economic elite. He mentioned that India is in third place by purchasing power, whereas some members of the G7 are not and also referred to current economic difficulties in Germany, France and other European states. According to him, the G7 is losing its position due to incorrect internal policy in member countries.
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Highlighting Russia's engagement in BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the G20, Putin underlined that these platforms are most suitable for the modern economic and geopolitical order. He praised these forums for their inclusivity, noting India's key role in shaping discussions and decisions within them.
Putin brushed off speculation about Western outreach inviting Russia back to the G8, saying there is no compelling reason to rejoin. Instead, Moscow wants multilateral forums that reflect global diversity and offer meaningful engagement with emerging powers.
The comments by the Russian leader reaffirm Russia's commitments toward the strengthening of alternative global economic alliances.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on statements made by President Putin and publicly available reports; situations and positions may evolve over time.
