U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that removing Russia from what was once the G8 was a “very big mistake,” claiming the ongoing war in Ukraine could have been avoided if Moscow had remained at the table. He also suggested China’s inclusion in the G7 could be considered.
Speaking at the Group of Seven summit in Canada, President Donald Trump criticized the decision made nearly a decade ago to expel Russia from the then-G8 bloc, saying it led to greater global instability and may have contributed to the current war in Ukraine.
“The G7 used to be the G8,” Trump told reporters. “Barack Obama and a person named [Justin] Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in, and I would say that that was a mistake because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in.”
Trump went on to argue that had he been president four years earlier, the conflict in Ukraine would not have occurred, reiterating his belief that diplomacy with adversaries is preferable to exclusion. “You have your enemy at the table. He wasn’t really an enemy at that time.”
Asked whether Russia should now be readmitted, Trump was noncommittal: “I’m not saying he should at this point, because too much water has gone over the dam maybe.”
The U.S. President also weighed in on the possible expansion of the G7 to include China. “Well, it’s not a bad idea. I don’t mind that,” Trump said, adding that while China doesn’t often engage in dialogue at summits, “you want to have people that you can talk to.”
The G8 became the G7 after Russia’s removal, and current members include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
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Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps in protest against persistent congestion from heavy truck traffic and tourism.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
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