US President Donald Trump made renewed calls for the return of Russia to the G7, stating that expelling it in 2014 was a mistake.
Trump, speaking on Thursday, stated that he would “love” to have Russia back in the group, adding that its exclusion bars world leaders from discussing matters. Russia was expelled from the G8 to leave only the G7 following its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in 2014.
“I believe it was a mistake to eject him,” Trump said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “All they do is speak about Russia, so they should be at the table. I believe Putin would love to be back.”
This is not the first attempt by Trump to call for Russia’s return. In his initial term, he tried to garner support for Moscow’s return but was met with stiff resistance from key Western powers.
Trump’s new push will likely generate debate among G7 members, especially European leaders who are still suspicious of Russia’s moves in Ukraine.
