Putin denies he received any invitation from US to attend G7
Putin said global dynamics are shifting, noting the rise of platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20
MOSCOW, Russia (MNTV) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States did not invite him to return to the G7, pushing back against speculation following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser Jared Kushner in the Kremlin.
“No, the topic simply came up. And I explained to Mr. Witkoff why I stopped attending these G7 events. There were no suggestions, nothing like that happened. We simply touched on the topic,” Putin said in an interview with India Today, released in full Thursday.
He emphasized that Russia is not seeking to restore its G7 membership, reiterating that his decision to stop attending the forum’s meetings was unrelated to Ukraine — a point he said he reiterated to U.S. officials during the recent talks.
Putin said global dynamics are shifting, noting the rise of platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, where Russia engages with what he called a “non-confrontational approach.” He also pointed to Moscow’s current ties with the European Union as part of the broader context.
“I’ll go to this G7 meeting, and how will I talk to the members of this G7 if they don’t want to talk to me? So what am I supposed to do there?” he said.
Putin met with Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday in Moscow to discuss Washington’s revised draft peace plan for Ukraine. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “constructive, very useful, and informative.”
Russia was suspended from the G8 in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea, prompting member nations to cancel a scheduled summit in Russia and revert to the G7.
Putin also addressed India’s energy purchases from Russia, pushing back against mounting U.S. pressure on New Delhi to halt Russian oil imports.
“The U.S. itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants… If the U.S. has the right to buy fuel from us, why should India be deprived of this right? This requires careful analysis, and we are prepared to discuss it with President Trump,” he said.
His comments come amid rising U.S.–India tensions following Trump administration tariffs of 50% on Indian goods introduced in August — partly over India’s continued energy trade with Russia during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
India dismissed the measures as “unjustified and unreasonable,” noting the U.S. continues to import “uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals” from Russia.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
