By Bisola Kolawole.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly ruled out any interest in re-entering the Group of Seven (G7)—once the G8 with Russia’s inclusion—calling the Western-dominated club’s economic clout a relic of the past that’s “shrinking every year, like shagreen leather.” Speaking ahead of his two-day state visit to India on December 4-5, 2025, Putin highlighted the G7’s fading relevance in an interview with India Today, pointing to surging economies like India’s (now third globally in purchasing power parity) as evidence that the world order has moved on.
The G7—comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, with the EU as an observer—boasts a combined GDP that’s still dominant in nominal terms but lags in PPP metrics, where emerging markets like China, India, and Russia outpace many members. Putin quipped: “I don’t really understand why the G7 calls itself the G7. What’s so ‘great’ about it?” He noted he’d already scaled back attendance pre-2014 suspension and sees no strategic upside now, preferring platforms like BRICS where Russia leads alongside India, China, and others.
Backstory: From G8 Inclusion to Exile
Russia joined the G8 in 1998—not for economic might, but for its geopolitical heft post-Soviet era. That changed in 2014 when the annexation of Crimea triggered its ouster, reverting the group to G7 and cementing a values-based alliance of Western democracies. Fast-forward to 2025: Trump’s return has injected fresh rifts, with US proposals to lure Russia back via G7 reinstatement as a Ukraine peace carrot—aiming to normalize ties and counter China’s influence. But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shot it down, saying G7 members aren’t “ready” after a decade of sanctions and isolation.
Putin confirmed the idea never came up in Tuesday’s Moscow talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), calling the session “necessary and useful” but light on breakthroughs. He reiterated Russia’s unyielding stance on “liberating” Donbas and Novorossiya (Russian terms for eastern Ukrainian regions), signaling no territorial concessions in any deal.
India Visit: A Diplomatic Lifeline Amid Stalled Talks
Putin’s Delhi trip—his first in four years since Russia’s Ukraine invasion—marks the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, hosted by PM Narendra Modi. Arriving Thursday evening for a private dinner at Modi’s residence, Putin will hold formal talks Friday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, focusing on:
- Defense Ties: Eyeing S-500 systems after S-400 success; potential RELOS pact ratification.
- Energy & Trade: Boosting oil imports (despite drying Western routes) and investments amid US tariffs.
- Geopolitics: Countering Trump-era pressures; Modi praised for resisting US influence.
The visit underscores India’s tightrope: Balancing its top arms supplier (Russia) with its largest trade partner (US), while navigating a “treacherous” global scene with a rising China. Putin hailed Modi as “not one to give in to pressure,” a nod to India’s neutral Ukraine stance.
Global Echoes: From Mockery to Multipolar Cheers
X is buzzing with Putin’s barbs—posts in multiple languages amplify the “G7 irrelevance” narrative, with users like @27khv (Brian McDonald) quoting the “What’s so special?” zinger, racking up 1K+ views. @AtishayyJain96 shared video clips touting India’s rise, garnering 700 views and likes, while @THISDAYLIVE linked headlines on the “rules out” story. Pro-Russia accounts frame it as multipolar triumph; Western skeptics see it as posturing amid stalled peace.
Putin’s snub isn’t just rejection—it’s a declaration: Russia’s pivoting to BRICS and the Global South, where economic gravity now pulls. As G7 grapples with internal Trump-fueled divides, the old guard’s “greatness” feels increasingly quaint.
#PutinInIndia #G7Irrelevant #RussiaIndiaSummit #UkrainePeaceTalks 🇷🇺🇮🇳
