President Trump suggests countries return to G8 format with Russia's participation

US President Donald Trump talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AP

According to The Guardian, during the G7 leaders' dinner, President Trump emphasized that Russia should return to the G7, despite arguments against this initiative from other counterparts.

"With the initiative to return to the G8 format with the participation of Russia, the US leader only received support from the outgoing Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe remained neutral. Other G7 leaders all voiced their opposition" - The Guardian wrote.

According to a European diplomatic source, after the initiative was put forward, "the atmosphere started to heat up". Most G7 leaders affirmed that "the G7 group is a family, a collective, a community of free democracies", so they did not allow Russia to participate, because Moscow "does not share the same views".

President Trump immediately rejected such arguments, saying that Russia's presence is essential, especially in solving international issues related to Iran, Syria, and North Korea.

Earlier, the leaders of the G7 countries discussed in detail the return of Russia to the Biarritz Summit, but did not reach a common agreement.

Russian President Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov commented that Russia does not really want to return to the G7 because there are many problems that need to be solved, while the G20 format would be more effective - where Russia plays an important role.