Trump, Putin talk G-7 plans

President Trump on Monday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about plans for this year’s Group of Seven (G-7) summit, after Trump said over the weekend that he hoped to add Russia and three other nations to the annual meeting.

A White House spokesman said the two leaders “discussed progress toward convening the G7.” The Kremlin said in a separate statement that Trump told Putin about his idea of inviting Russia, Australia, India and South Korea to the annual G-7 summit, which will be hosted by the U.S.

Trump told reporters Saturday that he would postpone the G-7, scheduled to take place June 10-12, until September or later and planned to invite the four additional nations to the summit.

The Trump administration had planned to host the summit at Camp David but scrapped the in-person meeting in favor of a virtual summit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The G-7 consists of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The four additional nations Trump wants to add are all part of the Group of 20. Earlier Monday, Trump spoke to South Korean President Moon Jae-in about plans to convene the G-7 summit, according to the White House.

Trump has previously suggested it would be appropriate to add Russia to the G-7; Moscow was expelled from what was then the G-8 over its seizure of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canada does not support Russia being added to the summit because Moscow continues to violate international law.

Trump and Putin also discussed efforts to defeat the novel coronavirus and reopen their respective economies on Monday’s call.

“President Trump conveyed that the United States is working hard to care for Americans at home and provide assistance to other countries in need, including the donation of 200 ventilators to the Russian people,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said. 

The Kremlin said the two leaders also discussed the OPEC+ agreement on cuts to oil output.

Updated at 4:07 p.m.