Russia cannot be excluded from G20: Medvedev

Moscow: Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has told Sputnik and RT that Russia cannot be excluded from the G20 because this format was created by the consensus.

“We created G20 in 2008. They say: ‘Let’s exclude Russia from G20!’ But I remember how it was born before my eyes, these decisions were made together. First (former US President George W.) Bush took part in it, then (former US President Barack) Obama. Everyone was happy to have representatives of such different countries sitting around the same table: Russia, the United States, China, and India. And this was a format created by the consensus, by the unanimity. And now they tell us: ‘Let’s exclude.’ No, guys, you cannot do that,” Medvedev said.

The deputy chairman said that G7 is no longer of any importance after Russia has suspended its participation.

However, Medvedev said, G20 is different as it helped Russia to overcome the economic crisis of 2008.

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman has told Sputnik that a threat of a nuclear conflict always exists, even when no one wants any war, therefore it is necessary to implement a responsible policy.

“No one wants any war, much less a nuclear war, which is a threat to the very existence of human civilization. In this sense, those analysts who say, perhaps somewhat cynically, but nevertheless, that the development of nuclear weapons has prevented a huge number of conflicts in the XX and XXI centuries, are right. This is true. In fact, it is what it did,” Medvedev said, answering the question about a possible nuclear conflict or a war between Russia and NATO.

“So it is obvious that the threat always exists,” he added.

The deputy chairman noted that NATO’s nuclear weapons are targeted at facilities on the territory of Russia, as well as Russian warheads are aimed at targets in Europe and the United States. Therefore, Medvedev said, it is necessary to pursue a responsible policy.

Medvedev noted that the current crisis is worse than it was during the Cold War, as at that time Russia’s counterparts were not trying to bring the situation to the boiling point, they did not impose sanctions on industries, agriculture and individuals.

Medvedev added that if the Russian leadership had taken an irresponsible stance, it would have withdrawn from the New START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), as the people who signed it are now on the West’s sanctions list.