U.S. Congressman Don Bacon: Russia Must Stay Out of G8 Until It Ends War and Occupation in Ukraine U.S. Representative Don Bacon, a moderate Republican known for his support of Ukraine, stated that Russia cannot return to the G8 as long as it continues its war against Ukraine and occupies its territory. Bacon made this statement in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed that Russia’s exclusion from the G8 in 2014 was “a big mistake.” “Let the G7 remain the G7, not the G8. Russia should not be part of this forum until it ends its invasion of Ukraine and withdraws its troops from occupied territories. War criminal Putin deserves to be ostracized,” the congressman wrote.