Kremlin slams G7 ‘Useless’ without Putin

The Kremlin has thrown its weight behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that removing Russia from the G8 in 2014 was a mistake, dismissing the Group of Seven as “rather useless” in today’s global order.

Speaking on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the ongoing G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Trump said Russia should never have been expelled from the G8 over the annexation of Crimea.

He argued that the move may have contributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“This was a big mistake,” Trump told reporters. “Putin basically does not speak to the people that threw him out—and I agree with him.”

Reacting to those remarks on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow fully agreed with Trump’s position.

“It was a big mistake then to exclude Russia from the G8 format,” Peskov told journalists in Moscow.

Peskov also questioned the continued relevance of the G7, stating that it no longer holds strategic value for Russia.

“Given the declining share of the G7 countries in the global economy, the G7 looks dull and rather useless,” he said.

The Kremlin cited the rise of other global forums like the G20 as more reflective of current geopolitical and economic realities.

“In the current state of world affairs, with shifting alliances and emerging economies, the G7 has lost its practical significance for Russia,” Peskov added.

Russia was ousted from the G8 in 2014 after it annexed Crimea, a move widely condemned by the West as a breach of international law.

Since then, Moscow has deepened its ties with China, India, and other BRICS nations while criticizing Western-led institutions.

The G7, which includes the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada, has used this year’s summit to reaffirm support for Ukraine and condemn Iran’s role in regional instability.

However, Trump’s warm comments on Russia and skepticism toward multilateral sanctions have sparked divisions within the group.

Despite global tensions and ongoing wars in both Ukraine and the Middle East, Trump’s stance has resonated with Moscow, signaling a potential shift in U.S.-Russia dynamics if he secures a second term.

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