Not Invited To Today's G7 Lunch, Russian President Putin Says 'Bon Appetit'

Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to award researchers and explorers of the Antarctic continent, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 5, 2014.

Left Out Of G7 Summit, Putin Wishes World Leaders "Bon Appetit" -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Vladimir Putin, shut out of a G7 summit over Russia's role in Ukraine, parried the snub on Thursday with a terse message for world leaders who lunched without him in Brussels on Thursday: "Bon appetit".

Putin should have been hosting the heads of leading industrialized nations at a summit of the G8 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi this week.

But the G7 nations scotched those plans in protest against Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in March, and the leaders of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan held their summit without him.

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My Comment: At least he is invited to having supper with the French President .... Two-dinner Hollande hosts Obama and Putin seeking Ukraine thaw -- Reuters

Russia Is Kicked Out Of The G8

Russia Is Ousted From Group of 8 by U.S. and Allies -- New York Times

THE HAGUE — The United States and its closest allies on Monday cast Russia out of the Group of 8 industrialized democracies, their most exclusive club, to punish President Vladimir V. Putin for his lightning annexation of Crimea, while threatening tougher sanctions if he escalates aggression against Ukraine.

President Obama and the leaders of Canada, Japan and Europe’s four strongest economies gathered for the first time since the Ukraine crisis erupted last month, using a closed two-hour meeting on the sidelines of a summit about nuclear security to project a united front against Moscow.

But they stopped short, at least for now, of imposing sanctions against what a senior Obama administration official called vital sectors of the Russian economy: energy, banking and finance, engineering and the arms industry. Only further aggression by Mr. Putin — like rolling his forces into the Ukrainian mainland — would prompt that much-harsher punishment, the countries indicated in their joint statement, called the Hague Declaration.

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More News On Russia Being Kicked Out Of The G8

As crisis continues, West moves to drop Russia from G-8 -- AP
G8 becomes the G7 as leaders kick Russia out: It's not a big problem, says Putin's foreign minister -- The Daily Mail
U.S., other powers kick Russia out of G8 -- CNN
U.S., allies throw Russia out of G-8 -- Miami Herald/McClatchy news
Russia Suspended From G-8 as Leaders Warn of Sanctions -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Leaders cancel G8 summit, excluding Russia from group -- Globe and Mail
Russia suspended from G8 in show of unity -- Irish Times

Russia's Foreign Minister Shrugs Off G8 Suspension

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. © RIA Novosti. Sergei Guneev

Russia Not Clinging To G8 If West Does Not Want It – Russian FM -- RT

Russia is not clinging to the G8 format, as all major world problems can be discussed at other international venues such as G20, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

“The G8 is an informal club, no one gives out membership cards and no one can expel members,” Lavrov told a media conference at the Hague. “If our Western partners believe that this format has exhausted itself, let it be. We are not clinging to it.”

He went on to say that many believe that the G8 has already fulfilled its mission as many issues are now discussed at the G20 forum.

“Generally speaking, there are also other formats for considering many questions, including the UN Security Council, the Middle East Quartet and the P5+1 on the Iranian nuclear problem,” Lavrov told journalists.

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More News On Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Commenting On The Possibility That Russia May Be Expelled From The G8

Russia's Lavrov says no problem if G8 does not meet -- Reuters
Lavrov: we don't 'cling' to G8, see no problem if there is no summit -- Kyiv Post/Interfax-Ukraine
No 'great tragedy' if Russia expelled from G8 -- Global Post/AFP
Russia shrugs off threat of permanent expulsion from G8 -- The Guardian
Russian foreign minister meets his Ukrainian counterpart, dismisses Western threats -- FOX News

Update: U.S., other powers kick Russia out of G8 -- CNN

G7 Leaders Meet To Discuss Russia

G7 LeaderS To Hold Crisis Talks On Ukraine During Nuclear Summit -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Leaders of the G7 nations are to hold talks on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague on Monday to consider their response to Russia annexing Crimea, amid doubts that sanctions can constrain President Vladimir Putin.

Since the emergency 1-hour meeting was announced last Tuesday, Putin has signed laws completing Russia's annexation of the peninsula on the Black Sea and his troops seized a Ukrainian airbase there.

In what has become the biggest confrontation between the East and West since the Cold War, the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions targeting some of his closest political and business allies, but it was unclear whether they went far enough to influence Moscow.

At The Hague, the G7 will probably discuss how to exert further pressure and at what potential cost.

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More News On G7 Leaders Meeting To Discuss Russia And Ukraine

Obama, G7 Leaders to Hold Crisis Talks on Ukraine -- Voice of America
G7 leaders to discuss crisis in Ukraine -- Irish Times
G7 leaders to meet for emergency Ukraine talks -- ITV

My Comment: The G8 as we know it is dead for now.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel: 'The G8 No Longer Exists'

The G8 Is Dead Declares Merkel As Europe Prepares To Ramp Up EU Sanctions Against Russia -- Daily Mail

* EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels to discuss developments in Ukraine
* German Chancellor Angela Merkel says EU will impose more sanctions on Russia after its troops seized majority control of Crimea
* She also told the German parliament the G8 forum is suspended indefinitely

The European Union is set to impose further sanctions on Russia following its decision to annex Crimea as German Chancellor Angela Merkel today declared the G8 'is dead'.

EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels today to discuss how to deal with the developments in Crimea after Russian troops seized majority control of the peninsula.

In an address to the German Parliament in Berlin this morning, Merkel said the EU was readying further sanctions and that the G8 forum of leading economies has been suspended indefinitely.

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More News On German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Declaration That 'The G8 No Longer Exists'

Merkel: More sanctions coming for Russia, G8 to be suspended until political situation changes -- AP
Merkel: ‘G8 no longer exists’ as EU plans further sanctions on Russia -- Euronews
Russia faces more sanctions, G8 suspended, Angela Merkel says -- Sydney Morning Herald
Merkel Says Russia Faces Economic Sanctions If Situation Worsens -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Merkel Says G8 No Longer Exists, Threatens Russia With Further Sanctions -- Moscow Times
Merkel: Russia Faces More Sanctions, G8 Suspended -- Time/AP
Merkel says EU will hit Russia with economic sanctions if needed -- Reuters
Britain warns Putin over Ukraine: Russia could be expelled from G8 -- Reuters

My Comment: EU leaders are apparently still deeply divided on what sanctions to impose .... EU leaders divided over new sanctions to punish Russia for annexing Crimea -- The Telegraph

Comment #2: Her declaration that the G8 is dead is surprising .... because it is coming from her. No remarks from the White House, Japan, China, etc..

Update: A New Cold War: U.S., allies have all but kicked Russia out of Group of 8 -- Washington Times

In Closing Statement, G8 Agrees On A Plan For Syrian Peace Talks

G8 countries leaders (L-R) Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. President Barack Obama and France's President Francois Hollande attend a working session at the Lough Erne golf resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, June 18, 2013.

G8 Agrees On Plan For Syrian Peace Talks -- Voice of America

Leaders from the Group of Eight major economic powers have issued a joint plan on Syria that calls for an end to the bloodshed and peace talks as soon as possible, but fails to mention whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down.

Tuesday's G-8 declaration said participants in any peace talks must agree to expel al-Qaida-linked fighters from Syria. It also committed a further $1.5 billion in aid for Syrian refugees. It condemned human rights abuses committed by government forces and rebels alike.

The summit meeting’s host, British Prime Minister David Cameron, said the seven-point plan endorses a process that would establish a transitional governing body in Syria with full executive powers formed by mutual consent from the country's major groups.

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More News On The G8 Plan For Syrian Peace Talks

As it happened: G8 summit -- BBC
G8 summit - day two: Politics live blog -- The Guardian
G8 Summit: Live Updates -- The Telegraph

Russia's Putin torpedoes G8 efforts to push out Assad -- Reuters
G8 leaders sidestep fate of Syria's Assad in final communique -- Reuters
G-8 agrees to promote Syrian peace talks -- AP
G8 calls for urgent Syria peace talks -- AFP
Putin Will Sign Call for Syrian ‘Transitional Government’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
G8 backs urgent Syria peace talks in Geneva -- BBC
G-8 leaders call for Syrian peace talks, sidestep issue of whether Assad should go -- Washington Post
G-8 calls for removal of Al Qaeda fighters in Syria, but doesn't mention Assad's fate -- FOX News
Syria Dominates G8 Summit Discussions -- Voice of America
G8 leaders agree to 7-point plan on Syria as summit wraps -- CBC
Syria crisis: G8 summit promise of aid and talks barely papers over cracks -- Ian Black, The Guardian

G8 Summit Opens In Northern Ireland

G8 Summit Opens In Northern Ireland -- Voice of America

U.S. President Barack Obama is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G8 summit, to discuss Washington's decision to provide weapons to the rebels in their fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Mr. Putin has staunchly opposed the U.S. intervention in the two-year Syrian conflict. It has been a year since the Russian and American leaders have met face to face, but they talked Monday as the two-day G8 summit opened at a golf resort in Northern Ireland.

Heads of state at the G8 discussed world economic issues, but the conference is likely to be dominated by talks on the U.S. decision to arm Syrian rebels.

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More News On The G8 Summit

G-8 Agenda: Syria, Corporate Taxes & Europe’ Economy -- Wall Street Journal
G8 Northern Ireland summit: Syria set to top agenda -- BBC
West rebukes Putin over Syria at G8 summit -- Reuters
Syria overshadows economic discussion at G8 summit -- BBC
Syria crisis set to dominate G8 summit -- Al Jazeera
Putin, Obama Start Talks on G8 Summit Sidelines -- RIA Novosti
‘Let’s be blunt’: Russia’s stance on Syria changes G8 to G7 plus one, Canada's Harper says -- National Post
G8: Cameron promises biggest bilateral deal in history as free trade talks open -- The Guardian
No ties on them: Dress-down Dave and the other G8 leaders opt for a casual approach at lakeside golf resort conference -- Daily Mail

G8 Summit For Wednesday In Chaos?

Calls Grow Within G8 To Expel Italy As Summit Plans Descend Into Chaos -- The Guardian

While US tries to inject purpose into meeting, Italy is lambasted for poor planning and reneging on overseas aid commitments

Preparations for Wednesday's G8 summit in the Italian mountain town of L'Aquila have been so chaotic there is growing pressure from other member states to have Italy expelled from the group, according to senior western officials.

In the last few weeks before the summit, and in the absence of any substantive initiatives on the agenda, the US has taken control. Washington has organised "sherpa calls" (conference calls among senior officials) in a last-ditch bid to inject purpose into the meeting.

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More News On The G8

Issues facing the G8 leaders -- AP
G8 summit to seek 80% emissions cut by 2050 -- AFP
G8 set to tackle hunger in Africa -- BBC
G8 to agree to open trade, boost farm aid: draft text -- Reuters
FACTBOX: Themes and scenarios for G8 summit in Italy -- Reuters
G8 leaders to be briefed on earthquake evacuation drill in L’Aquila -- Times Online
Silvio Berlusconi picks former topless model Mara Carfagna as G8 escort -- The Telegraph
What is the Group of Eight? -- AP
FACTBOX: Participants and agenda of G8 summit in Italy -- Reuters

G8 Wants Closer Cooperation To Fight Terrorism, Piracy

From Yahoo News/AFP:

ROME (AFP) – Fighting the global terrorism threat as well as the scourge of piracy calls for stronger cooperation among G8 nations, the group's interior and justice ministers said Saturday.

Despite some successes, "terrorism is still one of the most serious threats to international security," the ministers from the Group of Eight rich nations said in a final statement after three days of talks near Rome.

Extremists have shown a "significant offensive capability" and "organisational flexibility," they said, along with an ability to recruit and radicalise their followers, which is "a cause of great concern."

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My Comment: The same speeches, platitudes, and announcements made at this (and past) meetings/conferences.