Kananaskis, Canada, June 17 (Alliance News): The Group of Seven (G7) summit opened on a contentious note Monday as former U.S. President Donald Trump said it was a “big mistake” to expel Russia from the then-G8 in 2014, openly backing Vladimir Putin and challenging the group’s unity on key foreign policy issues.
Speaking beside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump claimed that ejecting Russia over its annexation of Crimea contributed to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else,” Trump said, insisting that Russia could have played a stabilizing role had it remained in the group.
His remarks cast doubt on expected progress in Tuesday’s meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and G7 leaders. European nations are pressing Trump to support tougher sanctions on Moscow and endorse continued arms supplies to Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Trump’s comments, saying Moscow “cannot be a mediator in the Middle East or anywhere else” given its aggression against Ukraine. A European diplomat said Trump’s stance shows Russia remains “front and center” in U.S. thinking.
The Canadian summit comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Iran confrontation. Trump reportedly declined to sign a G7 statement calling for de-escalation. Still, bilateral meetings are expected to address the crisis throughout the day.
In anticipation of disunity, Canada has foregone a joint communique this year to avoid a repeat of the 2018 summit fallout, when Trump withdrew U.S. support post-meeting. Instead, leaders have drafted issue-specific statements on migration, AI, and mineral supply chains — though none are yet approved by the U.S., according to diplomatic sources.
Talks also focus on the global economy, China, and adjusting the G7’s Russian oil price cap. However, with oil prices fluctuating following Israel’s strikes on Iran, any consensus on sanctions may prove elusive.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for a united call for de-escalation in the Middle East, saying, “What we need to do today is to bring that together and be clear about how it is to be brought about.”
As Trump’s presence continues to complicate G7 diplomacy, European leaders are bracing for more friction during Tuesday’s sessions, including discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
