MOSCOW. Sept 13 (Interfax) - U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has said it would be premature to discuss G8 reinstatement until the Ukrainian conflict is settled.
"It also means we need to solve some problems. Because what took us from the G8 to G7 to begin with? It was a violation of international sovereignty. Yet that hasn't been resolved. We've had no movement on Ukraine for years," Huntsman said in an interview with Interfax in response to the question whether the proposition made by U.S. President Donald Trump was realistic.
"And it would be a good thing if we actually made progress in our discussions towards resolving some of the issues that gave rise to whether it be sanctions, or whether it be change in the status of the G8 to the G7. The President is desirous to see that done. I know that he also believes in solving some of the underlying issues that created this environment in the first place," Huntsman said.
He added that Russia's readmission to G8 should be discussed by all G7 members.
"Well, the President has stated his desire to do that, and our Secretary of State has said that he will work toward that end. It is a multilateral forum, so there are many voices and opinions that must be taken into account, but we believe in opening more doors, not closing them, and in using more channels of communication. Where at the table where we have more participants, we can solve more of the world's problems," Huntsman said.
The full interview will be posted on the website www.interfax.com.