Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is likely trying to divert attention from Russia's war against Ukraine by offering to mediate in the Middle East conflict.

Trump has generally veered away from overtly criticizing Putin while openly berating Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but has repeatedly condemned Russia's lethal airstrikes and floated that the Kremlin could be "tapping us along."

Donald Trump said it was a mistake to have expelled Russia from the G8 group of leading nations. The US president also floated the idea that China should be admitted to the exclusive club as he joined other world leaders in Canada for this year’s G7 summit.