According to Reuters, on February 13th, local time, US President Trump said that he hoped that Russia would return to the Group of Seven (G7) and that Russia's removal was a mistake.

The report pointed out that Russia has always been a member of the G7 (then known as the G8). After the Ukraine crisis broke out in 2014, Russia was excluded.

"I hope they can come back. I think kicking them out is a mistake. This is not a question of whether you like Russia or not. This is the G8." Trump said at the White House on February 13th, local time.

He said that Russia should sit at the negotiating table. "I think Russian President Putin will be happy to come back."

Canada, which chairs this year's G7, has not yet responded to Trump's remarks.

In 2018, Trump strongly called for Russia to be invited back to the G7. He said at the time, "No matter what, Russia should be in this summit and should be part of the meeting. Whether you like it or not, it may be a bit politically incorrect, but we have a world to run. The G7 summit once kicked Russia out, and now they should invite Russia back because we need Russia to sit at the negotiating table."