WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“The United States helped establish and lead the G7 in pursuit of a peaceful and prosperous world. While the other G7 democracies continue to uphold those values, President Trump has isolated the United States, weakened American influence, and alienated our closest allies. So it’s hardly a surprise he’s now looking to the leader he seems to admire most: Vladimir Putin. One of the priorities for the G7 is addressing foreign interference in elections. While Russia may have ‘unique expertise’ in this area, Moscow’s aims don’t align with those of the G7 democracies.

“The G8 became the G7 precisely because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the war Russia is waging in eastern Ukraine. Since then, Putin has pressed ahead with his destructive efforts to undermine western unity. With Donald Trump’s reckless trade policy and affinity for Moscow, the American President sadly appears to be Mr. Putin’s willing partner.”

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