Background on Key Figures and Relevant Context
The Kremlin, the executive office of Russia’s head of government, has expressed its opinion on international affairs through a statement by its spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Group of Seven (G7) countries for expelling Russia from the Group of Eight (G8) in 2014.
Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia since 2012 (after serving as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2008), has been at the center of international tensions, particularly following Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. This action led to Russia’s expulsion from the G8, which includes the world’s most industrialized countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia.
Kremlin’s Stance on G8 Expulsion and Current G7 Relevance
According to Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, Trump was right in stating that expelling Russia from the G8 in 2014 was a significant mistake. Peskov emphasized that the G7 has “lost practical importance” for Russia, given the current global situation.
- G7’s Diminishing Global Influence: Peskov pointed out that the G7 countries’ diminishing role in global economics and their domestic trends have made the forum less relevant.
- Comparison with G20: He further highlighted that the G7 appears “faded and pretty useless” when compared to other international forums like the G20, which includes major emerging economies.
Trump’s Comments on G8 Expulsion
During a recent G7 summit in Canada, Trump echoed the Kremlin’s sentiments. He stated that the G8 had made a “big mistake” by expelling Russia in 2014, suggesting that Putin might not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Russia remained part of the G8.
“Fue un gran error” (It was a big mistake), Trump said, adding that Putin “practically doesn’t talk to those who expelled him” and he agrees with Putin.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who are the key figures mentioned in this article?
A: The key figures are U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. - Q: What is the Group of Eight (G8) and why was Russia expelled?
A: The G8 is an organization comprising the world’s most industrialized countries. Russia was expelled in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. - Q: What did the Kremlin say about Russia’s G8 expulsion?
A: The Kremlin, through its spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, agreed with Trump that expelling Russia from the G8 was a significant mistake. - Q: Why does the Kremlin consider the G7 ‘pretty useless’?
A: The Kremlin believes the G7 has lost practical importance due to the diminishing global influence of its member countries and their domestic trends, making it less relevant compared to other international forums like the G20.
