Trump Seeks Russia’s Return to G7, Russia Replies, “No Thanks”

Russia was expelled from the G8 in 2014 for annexing Crimea from Ukraine. Trump said it should be readmitted.

President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right). 

(Photo: Reuters/Altered by The Quint)

US President Donald Trump said on Friday, 8 June, that Russia should also be attending the Group of Seven nations summit, as he prepared to fly into a chilly reception at the meeting in Canada, where other G7 leaders are set to clash with him over trade.

Russia was expelled from what was then called the G8 in 2014 because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Trump said it should be readmitted.

The US President made the statement to reporters before leaving Washington:

You know, whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run and the G7, which used to be the G8, they threw Russia out, they can let Russia come back in, because we should have Russia at the negotiating table.

Donald Trump, US President

Russia Dismisses Trump’s “Suggestion,” Says They Have Other Priorities

The Kremlin responded to Trump’s statement, saying, “We’re focused on other formats apart from G7.”

Canada: Our Stance on Readmitting Russia Has Not Changed

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to Trump’s statement by reiterating that the Great White North had NOT changed its stance on readmitting Russia into the G7 group of countries.

UK: Russia Needs to Change Its Attitude If It Wants to Rejoin G7

Russia needs to change its approach before any conversation about it rejoining the G7 can begin, a senior British government source said to Reuters on Friday, 8 June.

“The (prime minister) has always said we should engage with Russia but beware,” the source told Reuters.

“We should remind ourselves why the G8 became the G7 –it was after Russia illegally annexed Crimea.” “Since then we have seen malign activity from Russia in a whole variety of ways, including on the streets of Salisbury in the UK,” the source added.

Italy Backs Trump’s Call For Russia’s Inclusion in G7 Meetings

New Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte threw his weight, on Friday, behind US President Donald Trump's call for Russia to be included once more into Group of Seven meetings.

“I agree with President (Trump). Russia should be re-admitted into the G8. It is in the interests of everyone,” Conte said in a tweet from Canada where he is due to make his international debut as Italian leader at a summit of world power leaders.

The Italian government, backed by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and far-right League, has already signalled it is likely to adopt a pro-Russian line in its foreign policy and has called for an end to economic sanctions on Moscow.

France, Canada to Corner Trump on Trade Policy

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Galerie des Batailles (Gallery of Battles) at the Versailles Palace. File photo.(Photo: AP)

The G7 group consists of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain.

Other G7 leaders, including host Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have been critical of Trump's trade policy ahead of the summit, condemning his administration's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from allies including Canada and the European Union.

Trump’s presidency has been clouded by a federal investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential election, and possible collusion by Trump’s campaign. Both Moscow and Trump have denied any such activity.

At a joint press conference on Thursday, Emmanuel Macron said: "A trade war doesn't spare anyone. It will start first of all to hurt US workers." Trudeau said: "We are going to defend our industries and our workers."

Trudeau, for his part, said Trump's action would hurt American workers as well as Canadians.

"If I can get the president to actually realise that what he's doing is counterproductive for his own goals as well, perhaps we can move forward in a smarter way," Trudeau said.

Is Italy Trump’s Only Remaining Friend in the G7?

New Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday he would try to promote "moderate" positions on trade tariffs at a Group of Seven summit where the contentious issue looks set to dominate talks among leaders.

"Regarding the trade tariffs, there are very conflictual positions out there," Conte told reporters ahead of the summit.

Certainly. We will promote a moderate position. We will try to understand the reasoning that have pushed people to take the positions they have and we will act accordingly.

Giuseppe Conte, Italian Prime Minister 

In other remarks, Conte said it was important that trade sanctions against Russia do not hurt the country's ordinary people, and said Italy was "totally dissatisfied" with the way immigration from Africa was being handled in the European Union.

The Italian government, backed by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and far-right League, has already signalled it is likely to adopt a pro-Russian line in its foreign policy and has called for an end to economic sanctions on Moscow.