THE HAGUE, Netherlands — President Barack Obama and leaders of the biggest Western economies on Monday agreed to move their next summit out of Russia, in a yet another bid to punish President Vladimir Putin for annexing part of Ukraine.
The G-7 countries will now meet in Brussels rather than attend the planned G-8 summit in Sochi.
The G-7 countries will now meet in Brussels rather than attend the planned G-8 summit in Sochi.
The announcement, which came after an emergency meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit, had been expected since Russia sent troops into Crimea three weeks ago. The leaders are trying to isolate Russia politically and economically, but the suspension also aimed to bruise Putin’s ago. He cares about Russia’s prestige and standing on the world stage, administration officials said, so his exclusion from the group should sting.