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German foreign minister says Russia's return to G-8 depends on Ukraine deal

Associated Press
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Spanish Foreign Minister Manuel Garcia Margallo, left, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walker Steinmeier observe a minute of silence in commemoration of the victims of the Germanwings Airbus A320 crash on March 24, 2015 in the French Alps, at the airport of Barcelona, Spain, Monday April 13, 2015. The foreign ministers of Spain, France and Germany have attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Barcelona's airport in memory of the 150 victims of the Germanwings plane crash last month. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (The Associated Press)

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, left, Spanish Foreign Minister Manuel Garcia Margallo, center, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walker Steinmeier observe a minute of silence in commemoration of the victims of the Germanwings Airbus A320 crash on March 24, 2015 in the French Alps, at the airport of Barcelona, Spain, Monday April 13, 2015. The foreign ministers of Spain, France and Germany have attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Barcelona's airport in memory of the 150 victims of the Germanwings plane crash last month. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (The Associated Press)

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, left, Spanish Foreign Minister Manuel Garcia Margallo, right, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walker Steinmeier attend a ceremony in commemoration of the victims of the Germanwings Airbus A320 crash on March 24, 2015 in the French Alps, at the airport of Barcelona, Spain, Monday April 13, 2015. The foreign ministers of Spain, France and Germany have attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Barcelona's airport in memory of the 150 victims of the Germanwings plane crash last month. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (The Associated Press)

Germany's foreign minister says Russia's return to the top diplomatic table depends on the success of a peace initiative for Ukraine.

Russia lost its membership in the Group of Eight major economies last year over its backing for separatists fighting against the government in eastern Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke to reporters in Barcelona, Spain, before flying to Berlin for a meeting late Monday with his counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and France.

Steinmeier dismissed suggestions that Russia might be invited to attend the G-7 meeting hosted by Germany in June, but said Moscow shouldn't be isolated indefinitely.

According to remarks released by his office, Steinmeier said "the path from G-7 to G-8 will surely lead via Ukraine and the issue of the implementation of the Minsk Agreement."