Basis for exclusion of Russia from G8 still exists - Germany

FILE PHOTO: Germany's Government Spokesperson Steffen Seibert folds his hands prior to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, April 29, 2020. Michael Sohn/Pool via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia was excluded from the Group of Eight powers over its annexation of the Crimea peninsula and the basis for that decision still stands, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday.

"It is up to the Russian leadership to end this situation," Steffen Seibert told a regular news conference in Berlin.