Russians back China

Russia has denied it is in talks with the US over what role it could have in the G7 summit later this year as it called for China to be part of the global event.

Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov’s comments are in stark contrast to those of John Sullivan, US ambassador to Russia.

On Friday, he said that Washington was “engaged with the Russian Foreign Ministry and other G7 governments about whether there is an appropriate role for Russia at the G7”.