UK will VETO Donald Trump's bid to let Russia back into the G7

Boris Johnson will veto any attempt by Donald Trump to bring Russia back into the G7, Downing Street said today.

The PM's spokesman said the was no evidence of 'changed behaviour' from Moscow since it was suspended from the bloc in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.

Mr Trump said over the weekend that he will postpone a G7 summit from this month to the Autumn amid the coronavirus turmoil, despite previously suggesting it would be a good symbol that things were getting back to normal.

The president also revived the idea of expanding the group, saying Russia, Australia, South Korea and India could be invited.

Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida that the current makeup of the group was 'very outdated' and did not represent 'what's going on in the world'

Donald Trump (pictured at the White House on Saturday) has said he wants to expand the G7 to include Russia again

Boris Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) will veto any attempt by Donald Trump to bring Russia back into the G7, his spokesman said

The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The group´s presidency rotates annually among member countries.

The PM's spokesman pointed out today that any expansion had to be agreed unanimously.

'We will look at the detail of what the US is proposing. It is customary for the country that holds the G7 presidency to invite other leaders to participate as guests in the summit,' the spokesman said.

'Decisions on G7 membership need to be made unanimously by all G7 leaders. Russia was removed from the G7 group of nations following its annexation of Crimea and we are yet to see evidence of changed behaviour that would justify its re-admittance.

'We wouldn't support it being readmitted as a member of the group.'

Canada's Justin Trudeau has also signalled his opposition.

'Russia has yet to change the behavior that led to its expulsion in 2014, and therefore should not be allowed back into the G7,' he said at a news conference.

Mr Trump postponed the G7 after German Chancellor Angela Merkel's office said she would not attend unless the coronavirus was more under control.

The leaders of the world's major economies had been slated to meet this month at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.

Mr Trump announced in March he was canceling the summit because of the pandemic and that the leaders would stage a video conference instead.

But he then switched course, saying a week ago that he was again planning to host a face-to-face meeting.

'Now that our Country is 'Transitioning back to Greatness', I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, DC, at the legendary Camp David,' Trump tweeted.

'The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all - normalization!'

Russia had been invited to attend the gathering of the world's most advanced economies since 1997, but was suspended in 2014 following its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

Mr Trump said he wanted to invite other countries including Russia to the meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen above in Moscow on Thursday