‘Agree with Trump’: Kremlin on US President’s ‘excluding Russia from G8 big mistake’ comment; calls G7 ‘ineffective’

Kremlin on Tuesday expressed settlement with US President Donald Trump’s view that expelling Russia from the G8 in 2014 was a “mistake”. However, it added that the G8 format now held little sensible worth for Russia, and that the G7, in its present kind, appeared “useless”, Reuters reported quoting Kremlin. Trump had criticized the administrations of Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau for eradicating Russia from the G8, which subsequently turned the G7. He had labeled the choice a “serious mistake” and claimed that had he been president on the time, the Russia-Ukraine conflict would by no means have occurred. “The G7 used to be the G8. About nine years ago, Russia was excluded, something I believe was a serious mistake. Back then, leaders like Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau didn’t want Russia involved, but had Russia remained at the table, perhaps we wouldn’t be facing a war today. If I was the president 4 years ago, we would not have a war right now,” he had stated on Monday attending the G7 summit.Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by cellphone on Saturday, throughout which they agreed that the rising tensions between Iran and Israel should be resolved. The dialog additionally briefly addressed Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and the standing of ongoing prisoner swaps. Trump talked about that, though Ukraine wasn’t the first subject, they did discuss upcoming change efforts and Putin’s curiosity in restarting peace negotiations after June 22.