Trump: Russia's expulsion from G7, huge mistake

The leaders of the world's seven most industrialized states (G7) have met on Monday in Cananaskis, Canada, with the goal of finding a common language for wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The meeting's participants are leaders from the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, as well as those of the European Union.

At the summit's entry, US President Donald Trump has said that Russia's departure from what was once G8, a decade ago, following the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula, has been wrong.

“was a big mistake”, Trump said, adding that he believes Russia would not invade Ukraine in 2022, if Russian President Vladimir Putin had not been expelled.

“Putin talks to me. He does not speak to anyone else, is not satisfied. I can tell you that he doesn't speak to any man who has left him behind, he has ruled him out, and I agree with him” Trump said.

Trump has talked to Putin on Saturday and suggested that the Russian leader could play a mediating role between Israel and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macro has dismissed this idea, saying Moscow cannot be a negotiator because it has launched a war against Ukraine.

European officials have said they hope to use Tuesday's meeting with Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky and with NATO Secretary Mark Rutte at next week's summit to convince Trump to have a tougher approach to Moscow.

“G7 should be aiming to bring us together again, so that in Ukraine there will be long-term ceasefire and peace, and I think it's in question whether President Trump is ready to push ahead the strictest sanctions against Russia”, Macron has said.

Asked about the conflict between Israel and Iran, the US president has said Tehran has signaled it is ready to negotiate.

The Iraqis would like to talk, but they would have to act earlier. They must reach agreement, because it is painful for both sides”, he said from Canada, when asked about any signs of enlargement from Iran.

“Iran is not winning the war, they need to talk, they need to talk right away, before it's too late”, the American president said.

Israel has launched its offensive against Iran on 13 June, attacking Iranian targets, including nuclear centres, killing high military figures, nuclear scientists, and hitting cities and oil and natural gas centres.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the country he heads has three goals ahead: the elimination of the Iranian nuclear programme, the elimination of ballistic missile production capacities and the elimination of the scope of terrorism, referring to militant groups supported by Iranians in the Middle East.

As a result of Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people in Iran, according to Iranian authorities.

On the other hand, Iranian counterattacks in Israel reported 24 people killed. / REL/ Periscopi/