Removing Russia from the G8 was a big mistake, says Trump

The decision to exclude Russia from the G8 format was a mistake, U.S. President Donald Trump stated.

“G7 was previously G8, but they ‘brilliantly’ removed Russia from it. It would have been much better if it had remained there,” Trump said during talks at the White House with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Meanwhile, the South African leader took the opportunity of his visit to the White House to pass on the G20 presidency to the U.S., amid statements from the U.S. administration regarding South Africa’s decision not to participate in the G20 summit scheduled for November in the country.