Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reiterating his condemnation of Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian president’s actions and values do not belong in the G7.
As the G7 summit wrapped up in Germany on Monday, Harper told reporters that G7 countries share “fundamental values and objectives,” as well as security interests.
“Mr. Putin fits none of these definitions,” he said.
In an earlier interview with CNBC, Harper said there is“no place at the table” for Putin at the G7 summit. He also said Putin’s Russia is “an inhibitor” to summit discussions.
A few days ago, Harper told The Associated Press that Canada would never agree to allow Russia back into the G7 – previously known as the G8 -- as long as Putin is president. He repeated his stance in the CNBC interview, adding that other countries are also strongly opposed to allowing Putin to return.
Last year, the G7 suspended Russia in the wake of the unrest in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. Leaders haven’t ruled out lifting the suspension, but Harper said he doesn’t “detect any sentiment to bring Mr. Putin back into this group.”
“He is increasingly in a shrinking democratic space,” Harper told CNBC. “He runs an economy that is dominated by oligarchs and criminal syndicates. It’s not at all like our economy. He doesn’t share out interests, he doesn’t share our values.”
The violence in Ukraine involving Russian-backed rebels has been a major topic at the G7 summit.
