Russian President Vladimir Putin said the G7 no longer reflects the world’s economic balance, arguing that Europe is slipping into recession while emerging powers such as India now play a far larger role. In an exclusive interview with India Today during his two-day visit to New Delhi , Putin said forums like Brics and the G20 — where India is a core member — have become more relevant than the Western-led G7.

Putin, who stressed that he had stopped attending G8 meetings long before the fallout over Ukraine, said the grouping has failed to keep pace with shifts in global economic weight. Asked whether Russia wished to rejoin what was once the G8, he responded with an unequivocal "no", adding that his position on the matter had not changed for years.

"At a certain point in time, I s

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