US President Donald Trump launched a group of seven (G7) summit in Canada with a provocative proposal: Russia’s research into a group – and maybe even add China. Trump talked to reporters together with the Canadian Prime Minister and host Mark Carney and said it was a “very big mistake” to remove Russia from the then G8 in 2014 after its connection of Crimea.
“The G7 used to be G8. Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau did not want to have Russia,” Trump said, incorrectly attributed Russia, which was released to the current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was elected a year later. “I think you wouldn’t have a war now if you had Russia, and now you wouldn’t have a war if Trump was president four years ago.”
Putin should be “at the table”
Trump suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin could participate in global discussions could prevent the current conflict in Ukraine.
“Putin is talking to me. He doesn’t talk to anyone else,” Trump said. “He doesn’t want to speak because he was very offended when he was fired from G8, how would I be, how would you be, how would anyone be.”
Asked if China should be part of G7, Trump answered, “It’s not a bad idea. I don’t mind that if someone wants to see only China.”
Tension with allies and Ukraine
Trump’s comments came just a day before his planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. It is expected that Trump will push Zeump to support the stronger US sanctions, which the Senate has already approved in response to Russia’s refusal to agree with the 30 -day truce.
Before the meeting, he said, “Russia spit in the face of everything the international community is trying to stop this war. This war could have ended long ago if the world responded to Russia instead of falling on manipulation and lies.”
He also accused Putin of using geopolitical distractions and noted that Russia attacked the energy infrastructure of Ukraine as soon as Putin offered mediation in the Iranian-Israeli crisis.
(Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump
