Topline
President Donald Trump said Russia should be a part of the Group of 7 alliance while meeting with fellow world leaders in Canada Monday, repeating calls he’s made for Russia to be readmitted and fueling a disagreement with other world leaders who have rejected Moscow’s inclusion.
President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hold a bilateral meeting during the … More
Key Facts
Trump suggested Russia and Ukraine “wouldn’t have a war right now” if Russia were part of the alliance and also said he would be open to China joining “if someone wants to suggest China.”
Trump also blamed former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former President Barack Obama for kicking Russia out of the G8 in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea, a decision all seven other leaders made together.
Trump has repeatedly said Russia should be allowed to rejoin the G7, telling reporters in February “it was a mistake to throw them out . . . it’s not a question of liking Russia or not liking Russia,” he said.
Trump’s desire to include Russia, and his overall embrace of President Vladimir Putin, is among several issues that have fueled tensions between Trump and the other G7 leaders.
Russia’s suspension from the group in 2014 marked one of the first major moves to distance it from Russia and side with Ukraine when the annexation and subsequent invasion of Crimea marked the start of the war in 2014.
Trump made the comments before he’s expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the meeting in Canada this week and after he spoke to Putin on Saturday.
Tangent
Trump also said Iran would “like to talk” when asked by a reporter whether he knows if Iran would like to de-escalate its conflict with Israel. “They have to make a deal. It’s painful for both parties . . . Iran is not winning this war,” Trump said.
Key Background
Leaders from the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union met in Canada for the summit amid the 90-day pause on Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs,” a moratorium that expires July 9. The meeting, hosted by Canada, also comes as tensions between the U.S. and its northern neighbor remain high as Canada has repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s suggestions that it should become the 51st state. Carney and Trump met privately for about 45 minutes before the official start of the summit and reportedly discussed trade.
What To Watch For
The group has drafted a joint statement calling for de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to Reuters, citing a draft of the document. A broader joint communique is not expected to come from the meeting, in part to avoid conflict with Trump, multiple outlets reported last week, citing unnamed sources. Trump left the 2018 G7 on a bitter note, publicly expressing his dissatisfaction with the joint statement leaders released expressing solidarity on a range of topics of international importance, such as climate change and the wars in Russia and the Middle East.
Further Reading
What to know about the Group of Seven summit in Canada that Trump will attend (Associated Press)
G7 summit opens in Canada with a focus on trade, wars — and not riling Trump (ABC News)
As G7 leaders meet, allies ask: Is Trump with us or against us? (CNBC)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/06/16/trump-says-russia-and-maybe-china-should-join-g7/