While in Quebec, President Trump not only reiterated his desire to have Russia rejoin the G7, but he also went a step further and blamed President Obama – not Vladimir Putin – for Russia's annexation of Crimea.
CNN:
"I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in," Trump said during an impromptu press conference at the summit. "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."
Russia was suspended from the group -- then known as the G8 -- in 2014 after the majority of member countries allied against its annexation of Crimea. It was the first violation of a European country's borders since World War II.
Trump suggested that Russia be allowed back into the global group despite their continued occupation of Crimea.
"I would say that the G8 is a more meaningful group than the G7, absolutely," Trump said. He also blamed former US President Barack Obama for Russia's move into that nation.
"You'll have to ask Obama, because he was the one that let Crimea get away" he said when asked about the annexation. "He allowed Russia to take Crimea. I may have had a much different attitude."
The president's blatant support for Putin while under investigation for cooperation with the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign only served to add fuel to that fire.
Former Obama National Security Council spokesman Ned Price told CNN that "today crystallizes precisely why Putin was so eager to see Trump elected."
"For Putin, this is return on his investment, and it's safe to say that his investment has paid off beyond even his wildest dreams," he said in a statement to CNN.
The United States' closest, longstanding allies made it very clear they had no interest in allowing Russia to rejoin the G7 since nothing has changed since it got kicked out in 2014.
On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he told Trump that asking Russia to rejoin the G7 is "not something we are even remotely looking at."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a press conference Friday that there was consensus that Russia should not return to the G7.
"We agree that a return by Russia to the G7 format cannot happen as long as there isn't any substantial progress in regard to the problems with Ukraine. That was the common view," she said.
"We (have) always been clear we should engage with Russia where it is in our interests, but we need to remember why G8 became the G7, it was because Russia illegally annexed Crimea," a European diplomat said Friday. "Since then we have seen an increase in Russian misbehavior and attempts to undermine democracy in Europe. It is not appropriate for Russia to rejoin until we see it behaving responsibly. Putin should get nothing for free."
This sentiment was echoed by a senior United Kingdom government source.
Italy’s new Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti is the only world leader who sided with Trump.
The official statement composed for the conclusion of the G7, designed for all participating nations to sign, included language addressing the Russia issue.
“We reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and reaffirm our enduring support for Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” the G7 statement said.
“The continuation of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s failure to demonstrate complete implementation of its commitments in the Minsk Agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty,” it said.
The Minsk Agreement brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France was to produce, among others, a ceasefire in the eastern Ukraine regions engulfed by a pro-Russian insurgency and restore full control of Ukraine’s eastern border to Kiev.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would welcome his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the next G7 summit to be held in France next year, but only if Russia delivered on its Minsk agreement commitments.
President Trump refused to sign the communique.
Trump again calls for readmitting Russia to G7, blames Obama for Crimea's annexation (CNN)
G7 leaders urge Russia to stop undermining democracies (Reuters)
Trump criticizes Justin Trudeau, says US won't endorse G7 statement (CNN)