EU 'under no condition' agrees to reinvite Russia to G7

The EU can "under no condition" agree to Russia's return to the G8, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Saturday.

"One year ago, in Canada, [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump suggested reinviting Russia to G7, stating openly that Crimea's annexation by Russia was partially justified. And that we should accept this fact. Under no condition can we agree with this logic," Tusk said.

His remarks came ahead of the G7 summit in French town of Biarritz, where leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. have gathered.

Russia was suspended from the G8 in 2014 due to its annexation of Crimea as well as its political and military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"When it comes to speculations around inviting Russia to the table I would like to say this. First: the reasons why Russia was disinvited in 2014, are still valid. What is more, there are new reasons, such as the Russian provocation on the Azov Sea," Tusk said.

He also said Russia did not pursue the path of liberal democracy, rule of law, and human rights.

Tusk added it would be better to invite Ukraine as a guest to the next G7 meeting.

"Today I will try to convince my interlocutors that it would be better to invite Ukraine, as a guest of course, to the next G7 meeting, to hear the opinion of the new President [Volodymyr Zelensky]," he said.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow broke down after Russia annexed Crimea following an illegal independence vote in 2014.

The UN, the EU, the U.S., and Turkey do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.