Vladimir Putin on Sunday followed through on President Trump’s call to readmit Russia to the G7 by saying Moscow would be happy to host a gathering of global leaders, according to a report on Sunday.
“We did not (choose to) leave it, our colleagues refused to come to Russia due to known reasons at some point. Please, we will be glad to see everyone here in Moscow,” Putin told reporters in China where he attended an economic summit and met with President Xi Jinping.
A majority of the G7 member nations ousted Russia from the organization in 2014 after it annexed Crimea, the first violation of a European country’s borders since World War II.
Trump said Russia should have been invited to the talks in Quebec.
“I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in,” Trump said Saturday before he left the gathering to travel to Singapore. “I think it would be good for the world. I think it would be good for Russia. I think it would be good the United States. I think it would be good for all of the countries of the current G7. I think the G8 would be better.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who Trump feuded with during the talks over trade and tariffs, rejected any suggestion of Moscow returning to the group.
That’s “not something we are even remotely interested in looking at,” Trudeau said on Saturday.
Putin also said he’s open to meeting with Trump and encouraged officials from both countries to make it happen.
“I agree with him, and to have a meaningful discussion, our ministries of foreign affairs and experts should get involved and work closely together, and of course a meeting in person is necessary,” Putin said.
Reports said the Kremlin has reached out to Austria about hosting a meeting between Trump and Putin sometime this summer.
Trump is in Singapore for his historic meeting with North Korean President Kim Jong Un.
With wires
