Russia and Putin · First term · № 40
Called for Russia to be readmitted to the G7 four years after its expulsion over Crimea
“And in the G-7, which used to be the G-8, they threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in. Because we should have Russia at the negotiating table.”
- Said
- , Exchange with reporters at the White House before departing for the G7 summit in Canada
- Subject
- G7 summit, Charlevoix
- Type
- NATO and allies
- Topic
- Ukraine & Russia
- Era
- First term
What happened
Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight in 2014 after it annexed Crimea. Leaving for the G7 summit in Quebec on June 8, 2018, Trump said Russia should be readmitted, adding that he had been 'Russia's worst nightmare'. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union members attending were all against the idea; Italy's new prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, initially supported it. At his closing news conference on June 9, asked whether Crimea should be recognized as Russian, Trump said Barack Obama 'allowed Russia to take Crimea' and that 'it's been done a long time', and said he would rather see Russia in a G8 than a G7. BuzzFeed News reported on June 14, citing two diplomatic sources, that Trump told leaders at the summit dinner that Crimea was Russian because everyone there speaks Russian; press secretary Sarah Sanders said she was not aware of any such comment and would not discuss a private conversation.
Sources
- Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Charlevoix, Canada
- The President's News Conference in Charlevoix, Canada
- G7: Trump isolated over trade and Russia on first day
- Trump Told G7 Leaders That Crimea Is Russian Because Everyone Speaks Russian In Crimea
- Trump Wants Russia Back In G-7