What is Donald Trump's position on Russia's exclusion from the G8 and how does he believe it relates to the Ukraine conflict?

Trump argues that excluding Russia from the G8 was a strategic mistake made by Obama and other leaders. He believes Russia should be reinstated because effective diplomacy requires having all major powers "sitting at the table" for meaningful negotiations, regardless of personal feelings toward Russia. Trump contends that maintaining the G8 format with Russia included could have prevented the Ukraine invasion entirely. He asserts that his leadership approach would have maintained better communication channels with Putin, thereby avoiding the current conflict through proactive diplomatic engagement. His perspective emphasizes that exclusionary policies in international relations can backfire, potentially escalating tensions rather than resolving them. Trump positions himself as someone who would prioritize pragmatic diplomacy over ideological stances in foreign policy.