Top Democrat U.S Senators warned Trump over inviting Russia into G7 Summit

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The top Democrats in the U.S Senate have warned the U.S President that the Russian government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, should not be allowed to attend next year’s G-7 Summit “under no circumstances”. The suggestion comes following the continuous military occupation of Crimea (a peninsula in the Black Sea in Eastern Europe that belongs to Ukraine). The four leading Democrats of the chamber forwarded a letter to Trump. The letter says, “Under no circumstances should President Putin be invited to participate in the G7 until the Russian government undertakes demonstrable actions to show its willingness to behave responsibly both domestically and abroad”.

The U.S Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Jack Reed, Bob Menendez, and Mark Warner signed the letter. 2 other U.S Senators in the Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Chris Murphy said that their visas to enter as part of a congressional delegation were denied by the Russian government. It also increased tensions between the United States and Russia. Trump argued that reinstating Russia as a member could help smooth over global tensions with the country. He also stressed that it will improve the global economy and security. But, above mentioned Democrats who wrote letter showed their disagreement with Trump.

The letter says, “The country lacked the democratic institutions and the economic capacity to rejoin. The G7 nations are unified by both economic status and a shared commitment to democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. Readmitting Putin’s Russia to the G7 would be contrary to our values and a clear abdication of the United States’ responsibilities as the world’s leading democracy”. The Democrats also referenced Russia’s past attempts to interrupt the U.S elections. Their reported involvement in chemical poisonings last year in England, continued the occupation of Georgia, support for authoritarian regimes, such as in Syria and Venezuela, and persecution of minority groups and political opponents are disqualifying factors.