Theresa May condemns Donald Trump call for Russia to rejoin G7
2 min read
Theresa May has rejected Donald Trump's call for Russia to rejoin the G7.
The US president made the suggestion ahead of a summit in Canada of the leaders of the high-powered group.
Russia was kicked out of what was then the G8 in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.
But President Trump said: "Whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, we have a world to run and in the G7, which used to be the G8, then they threw Russia out.
"They should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table."
Mrs May - who has called for western nations to form a united front against Moscow agression - said: "We should remind ourselves why the G8 became the G7, it was because Russia illegally annexed Crimea.
"We have seen malign activity from Russia in a whole variety of ways, of course including on the streets of Salisbury in the UK.
"So we need to say, I think, before any such conversations can take place Russia needs to change its approach."
The row is the latest bust-up between President Trump and the Prime Minister.
The pair have also fallen out over a series of issues, including President Trump tweeting videos of the far-right Britain First group, and moving the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
It was also reported yesterday that the President has grown frustrated by Mrs May's "school mistress" tone.
President Trump is set to visit the UK in July, where he will take tea with the Queen and enjoy a round of golf on his Scotland-based course.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe