Trump at G7: Russia’s removal from G8 was ‘very big mistake’

President Donald Trump criticized former President Barack Obama and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the decision to remove Russia from the G8 summit in 2014, calling it a “very big mistake” that could have prevented the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump, speaking at the G7 summit in Canada alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney, stated that having Russia at the table could have prevented the conflict.

In 2014, Russia was officially removed from G8 meetings after annexing Crimea from Ukraine. Trump expressed his disagreement with this decision, arguing that it was a mistake that could have been avoided. He emphasized that he was vocal about his opposition to Russia’s expulsion, even though he was not involved in politics at the time.

While Trump clarified that he was not advocating for Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the current summit, he reiterated that the decision to exclude Russia more than a decade ago was a significant error. He suggested that having Putin at the table could have prevented the war from escalating.

The G7 summit, attended by leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, focuses on the world’s largest economies. Trump’s presence at the summit marks his first G7 meeting of his second term. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are also participating in the summit and are scheduled to meet with Trump.

The summit’s agenda includes discussions on the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, following Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities. The strikes, part of “Operation Rising Lion,” have sparked retaliation from Iran and raised concerns about a potential war. Trump has urged Iran to resume nuclear negotiations after the country withdrew from talks with the U.S.

In addition to trade and regional conflicts, the summit will address the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump emphasized the importance of diplomatic dialogue to prevent further escalation of the conflict. The leaders aim to find peaceful solutions to the crises affecting the global community.

Overall, the G7 summit serves as a platform for world leaders to address pressing issues and collaborate on strategies to promote peace, stability, and prosperity worldwide. The discussions will shape international relations and set the tone for future diplomatic efforts.