Biden: Trump saying Russia should be invited back to G-7 ‘makes no sense’

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday criticized President Trump for suggesting that Russia should be reinstated into the Group of Seven.

In a tweet, Biden said the comment “makes no sense,” denouncing Trump for wanting to “reward” Russian President Vladimir Putin while “alienating” key democratic U.S. allies.

{mosads}“Putin’s Russia invaded its neighbors, violated our sovereignty by undermining elections, and attacks dissidents abroad,” Biden wrote. “Yet our President wants to reward him with a seat at the table while alienating our closest democratic allies. It makes no sense.”

Putin’s Russia invaded its neighbors, violated our sovereignty by undermining elections, and attacks dissidents abroad. Yet our President wants to reward him with a seat at the table while alienating our closest democratic allies. It makes no sense.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 8, 2018

Russia was suspended from the group of top industrial powers — then the G-8 — in 2014 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Biden’s comments came hours after Trump told reporters on Friday that Russia should be invited back to the summit. Trump spoke with reporters ahead of his departure for the weekend’s G-7 summit in Quebec, Canada, from which he will depart early.

“Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?” he said. “I would recommend — and it’s up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting, it should be a part of it.”

“Whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run,” he added.

Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from lawmakers, including at least two GOP senators.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) called Trump’s comment “weak.”

“This is weak,” Sasse said in a statement. “Putin is not our friend and he is not the President’s buddy.”