Exception made for under Russian sanctions

The German government has invited a Russian minister who is on a European sanctions list of Russians who are not allowed to the EU.

The German Government emphasized Friday that such exceptions are possible and the other EU Member States are informed. The conference is January 22. The G20 is an international economic forum of twenty major advanced countries representing two thirds of the world's population and about 80 percent of world trade.

The EU has imposed sanctions since mid-March 2014 against Russian officials in response to the conflict in Ukraine.