Trump Proposes Russia’s Return to G7—Rattles Allies

At the G7 in Canada, Trump challenges Western consensus—saying exclusion fueled conflict with Russia

Hey Small Biters,

At the G7 summit, Donald Trump reignited controversy by advocating for Russia’s reinstatement into what was once the G8. He claimed that ejecting the nation was a “big mistake” and suggested its presence might have prevented Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The remarks diverged sharply from the unified stance of other Western leaders .

Trump began by framing Russia’s exclusion as a historic error. “Let Russia come back in,” he urged, noting that excluding Moscow alienated allies and hampered diplomatic leverage. He framed the decision made after Crimea as counterproductive, one that closed channels of communication just when they were needed most .

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Russian troops first entered Ukraine in 2014 after annexing Crimea, prompting the G7’s decision to expel Russia. Trump, however, cast doubt on whether this move truly served peace. “Maybe we could have avoided war,” he speculated, citing his personal rapport with Vladimir Putin and implying a missed diplomatic opportunity .