US President Trump pushes for Russia's reentry in G7, calls 2014 expulsion 'a mistake'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (February 13) pushed for Russia’s reentry in the G7 bloc, calling its expulsion a mistake.

The US president said he would “love” to have Russia back in the G7, from which it was suspended in 2014 after Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.

“I think it was a mistake to throw him out,” Trump said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I said, ‘What are you doing? You guys - all you’re talking about is Russia and they should be sitting at the table.’ I think [Vladimir] Putin would love to be back,” the US president added.

Trump made similar effort during first term

Trump made a similar effort to get Russia back in the G7 bloc during his first term as well but found little support among major Western players.

Trump also proposed the idea of holding a summit with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping once “things calm down.”

On Wednesday, Trump held a “lengthy and highly productive” phone conversation with Putin, during which they agreed to begin negotiations to end the Ukraine war “immediately,” according to Trump.

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The Kremlin later confirmed that the call lasted 1.5 hours, with both leaders acknowledging that “the time has come to work together.” Following talks with Putin, Trump also held a phone call with Ukraine President Vladimir Putin.

(With inputs from agencies)