No Russian return to G-8 without change in stance by Vladimir Putin: Canada

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper in Berlin on Thursday. (AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Russia won’t return to the Group of Eight industrialized nations unless President Vladimir Putin fundamentally changes course.

After talks on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Harper said despite “all of our efforts to make Mr. Putin a partner, he has not desired to be a partner, he’s desired to be a rival, and that’s just a reality we have to come to terms with.”

Russia was ejected from the G-8 indefinitely this week in response to its annexation of Crimea.

Story continues below this ad

Harper said he doesn’t “see any way of a return of Mr. Putin to the table unless Russia fundamentally changes its course, its orientation toward the world, and its values and behaviors.”

Merkel said Europe will increase sanctions if Russia escalates the situation.