On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump shared his wish for Russia to be readmitted to the Group of Seven (G7), asserting that the decision to remove Russia was a mistake.

He made this statement during a press briefing at the White House while discussing new U.S. reciprocal tariffs.

Russia, which was part of the G8—a collective that included Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—was suspended from the group in March 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, an action that drew widespread condemnation from the global community.

During the announcement, Trump said, "I'd love to have them back. I think it was a mistake to throw them out. Look, it's not a question of liking Russia or not liking Russia. It was the G8," suggesting he values Russia’s participation in global discussions.

Trump added, "What are you doing? You guys - all you're talking about is Russia and they should be sitting at the table," and he hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be interested in rejoining the group.

At the time of Trump's remarks, Canada, which is the current G7 president, had not provided an immediate response.

Diplomatic experts are closely watching the potential ramifications of Trump's comments in light of ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations, especially concerning Ukraine, international security, and global economic policies.

The G7, established in the 1970s to enable economic discussions among the world’s largest advanced economies, is often viewed as a forum for tackling significant global challenges.

Since Russia's expulsion, G7 discussions have primarily focused on issues like climate change, trade, and geopolitical stability, particularly due to Russia’s conduct in Ukraine.