Read more: Donald Trump's trade moves set tense tone for G7 summit

The European stance came in response to a surprise suggestion from US President Donald Trump earlier on Friday that Russia — which was expelled in 2014 from what was called the G8 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine — should be reinstated into the club.
U.S. President Donald Trump calls for Russia, which was suspended from the group after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, to be reinstated in the group; a call supported by the Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte, and rejected by most other G7 leaders.