In an interview with Axios, Trump said he believes the war between Russia and Ukraine might not have escalated into a full-scale conflict in 2022 had Moscow remained a member of the grouping. He noted that the alliance was previously known as the G8 before reverting to the G7 following Russia’s suspension.
Trump blamed former U.S. President Barack Obama for supporting Russia’s exclusion, saying Obama did not want Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue participating in meetings involving the world’s leading industrialized nations.
According to Trump, maintaining channels of communication through regular summits involving all major powers could have reduced tensions and possibly prevented the deterioration in relations that culminated in war.
Russia was suspended from the G8 in March 2014 after Crimea voted in a referendum to leave Ukraine and join Russia. Western governments condemned the move as a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, prompting the group to continue without Moscow. Since then, the bloc has consisted of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Trump has previously floated the idea of bringing Russia back into the group, arguing that global challenges are better addressed when major powers remain engaged in dialogue rather than isolated. However, European members have consistently opposed the proposal, insisting that Russia would first have to alter its policy toward Ukraine and comply with international norms.
The issue has become even more contentious following more than four years of war in Ukraine, which has strained relations between Moscow and Western capitals and led to unprecedented sanctions against Russia.
Russian officials, however, have signaled that rejoining the group is not among Moscow’s priorities. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he welcomed Russia’s departure from the G8, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov argued that the G7 no longer holds the same economic influence it once enjoyed.
Moscow says it has increasingly shifted its focus toward alternative international platforms, including the G20, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which it sees as more representative of the emerging multipolar world order.
Trump’s remarks are likely to reignite debate among Western allies over the future of relations with Russia, at a time when diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine and reshaping global security arrangements remain ongoing.
