Trump Blames G7 Russia Expulsion for Ukraine War at Summit

At the 2025 G7 summit in Canada, President Donald Trump criticized the 2014 decision to exclude Russia from the then G8 following its annexation of Crimea, blaming former President Barack Obama and ex-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for sparking the Ukraine-Russia war. Trump argued that keeping Russia in the group might have prevented the conflict, stating, "You wouldn't have a war right now if you had Russia in." Despite acknowledging that reinstating Russia now may be too late, he expressed that the exclusion was a "big mistake" that complicated international relations. Trump also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin communicates only with him among the G7 leaders, suggesting Putin remains insulted by his removal from the group. Additionally, Trump showed openness to the idea of including China in the G7 to facilitate dialogue. Throughout his remarks, Trump reiterated his belief that if he had been president four years ago, the war in Ukraine would not have occurred.