Speaking on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, US= President Donald Trump reiterated his long-standing position that removing Russia from the Group of Eight (G8) was a major strategic error by the West. The summit, currently underway in the Canadian Rockies, brings together leaders of the world’s major advanced economies—without Russia, which has been excluded since 2014.
Trump made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He stated that had he remained in office four years ago, the full-scale war in Ukraine might never have occurred. Referring to Russia’s exclusion, Trump said, “I’m not saying [Putin] should be at the table at this point, because too much water has gone over the dam, maybe, but it was a big mistake.” He added, “You spend so much time talking about Russia, and he’s no longer at the table.”
The U.S. president claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin still speaks with him but does not engage with other G7 leaders. “He doesn't want to talk because he was very insulted when he got thrown out of the G8—as I would be, as you would be, as anybody would be,” Trump remarked. “He basically doesn't even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him.”
Trump expressed optimism that the current G7 summit would deliver constructive results, particularly in regard to trade relations with Canada.
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Russia's Removal from G8
Russia was expelled from the G8 in 2014 after its annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since then, the group has operated as the G7, comprising the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, without Russian participation.
Trump’s stance on the matter is not new. In February 2025, he once again called the decision to remove Russia from the G8 a “mistake” made under former President Barack Obama. His comments at that time were met with criticism, particularly from Germany.
During his first term, Trump had repeatedly attempted to persuade fellow G7 leaders to reinstate Russia. In August 2019, tensions flared at the G7 summit in France when Trump reportedly clashed with other world leaders over the proposal. Despite his push, European leaders strongly opposed Russia’s reentry, citing Moscow’s ongoing violations of international law.
The Russian government, for its part, has stated that it has no intention of rejoining the G7. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently reiterated that Russia’s return to the group remains “unthinkable.” Similarly, Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine, Natalka Tsmots, has firmly rejected Trump’s position. As global divisions over Russia’s role in world affairs deepen, Trump’s remarks at the G7 summit reflect his continued divergence from the consensus of Western leaders on how to handle Moscow’s geopolitical ambitions.
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