Marek Strzelecki and Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States and its Western Allies are evaluating whether Russia should be included in the Group of Twenty (G20), grouping of major economies after its invasion of Ukraine. Sources involved in these discussions informed Reuters Tuesday.

According to sources, Russia is likely to be excluded from the club due the fact that other members (India, Saudi Arabia, China and so on) would veto any attempt at exclusion.

Together with the Group of Seven, which is made up of just the United States of America, France, Germany and Italy, the G20 provides an international platform to coordinate everything, from cross-border debt management to climate change actions.

Russia faces an onslaught international sanctions from Western countries that seek to isolate the country. These include closing it off of the SWIFT global banking messaging system, and restricting its central bank’s dealings.

“There have been discussions about whether it’s appropriate for Russia to be part of the G20,” said a senior G7 source. If Russia continues to be a member of the G20, it will lose its usefulness.”

Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to the White House on Tuesday said: “We do not believe it can be normal for Russia in international organizations and within the international community.

He stated that the United States intends to meet with allies and consult before making any additional pronouncements.

An unnamed source from the European Union confirmed separate discussions regarding Russia’s status in future meetings of G20. Indonesia holds the rotating chair.

“It has been made very clear to Indonesia that Russia’s presence at forthcoming ministerial meetings would be highly problematic for European countries,” said the source, adding there was however no clear process for excluding a country.

In the 2000’s, Russia was added to the G7 as a “G8” member. This occurred during warmer relations. After the annexation by Russia of Crimea, 2014, Moscow was suspended indefinitely from this club.

Poland had earlier on Tuesday stated it had proposed to U.S. Commerce officials that Russia replace it within the G20 group. The suggestion received a “positive reaction.”

The spokesperson for the U.S. Commerce Department stated that a good meeting had taken place last week between Piotr Nowak, Polish Economic Development and Technology Minister and Gina Raimondo, U.S. Commerce Secretary.

“She (Raimondo) welcomed hearing Poland’s views on a number of topics, including the operation of the G20, but did not express a position on behalf of the U.S. Government with respect to the Polish G20 proposal.”

According to a G7 source, it is unlikely that Indonesia (currently heading the G20) or other members such as South Africa, India, Brazil and China will agree to expel Russia from the group.

If G7 countries instead were to skip this year’s G20 meetings, that could be a powerful signal to India, the source said. Some Western nations have been furious at it for failing to condemn Russia’s invasion and supporting Western sanctions against Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s standing at the other multilateral institutions is also under scrutiny.

Officials of the World Trade Organization said that numerous Russian delegations were refusing meetings in Geneva.

Keith Rockwell, spokesperson for WTO said that many governments had raised objections about what was happening in the country. These objections manifest themselves as a failure to engage with member countries.

According to one source, Russia was not among the WTO members that were engaging in negotiations with the European Union. There was no confirmation by these delegations immediately.