German business groups call for Russia to be included back into G7

Chancellor Angela Merkel will host leaders from the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Italy and Japan in Bavaria on June 7-8

But Eckhard Cordes, chairman of Germany's Committee on Eastern Economic relations, which represents the interests of about 200 companies with investments in Russia, said barring Russia from the summit was a missed opportunity.

Interviewed in Welt am Sonntag today he says

"A G7 meeting with Russia could contribute to solving crises and stir Russia into constructive steps in the Ukraine conflict"

adding that

"it was better to talk with each other than about each other"

Matthias Platzeck, chairman of the German-Russian Forum business lobby and senior member of the Social Democrats (SPD), also said it was time to invite Russia back to the G7.

"The process of disintegration in the Middle East, in Iran, Afghanistan and Syria can only be solved with Russia,"

Reuters has more here