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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Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached early next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
Ukraine has carried out its first aerial drone strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting a growing intensity in Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil shipping, officials said on Friday (19 December).
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