The closing of such formats of cooperation with Russia as the G8 and PACE, deprives the West of the possible ways of influence on Russia, said head of the state Duma on international Affairs Alexei Pushkov.

"Closing the formats of communication with Moscow - G8, PACE, "strategic partnership" with the EU, the West does not increase, but reduces its leverage on the Russian Federation, " Pushkov wrote on Thursday in his own microblog on Twitter.

at the end of January this year, the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution in which until April had deprived the Russian delegation of a number of important powers, and voting rights, because of the situation in Ukraine. In response to this, the delegation of Russia until the end of 2015 left the Assembly. At the session in April of this year the PACE has decided not to arrange a debate on the credentials of the delegation. The discussion will take place at the June session.

in the past year has ceased to exist and such format as the G8. The G7 leaders following the meeting, 7-8 June of this year confirmed that the issue of extending sanctions against Russia before the end of 2015 will be considered by the European Council in June.

sections: Politics