Kremlin backs Trump’s view that Russia's G8 exclusion was "mistake"

Russia shares U.S. President Donald Trump’s view that its exclusion from the Group of Eight (G8) was a mistake, but now considers the format irrelevant, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a recent briefing.

“We agree with President Trump: excluding Russia from the G8 was a big mistake at the time. However, our position is clear that the G8 has since lost its practical importance for us,” Peskov stated, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

When asked about the timing of the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Peskov said there is currently no clarity.

“There is no clear understanding yet about the next round of talks, although substantial progress has been made in implementing the agreements reached in Istanbul,” he added.

To recall, on June 16, speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said the former Group of Eight had been wrong to kick out Russia in 2014 after it annexed Crimea. “This was a big mistake,” Trump said, adding he believed Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Putin not been ejected.

The G8, which Russia joined in 1997 and from which it was suspended following the annexation of Crimea, has been operating as the G7 since 2014. 

By Khagan Isayev