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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