Sen. Ben Sasse Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseTrump says he'll sign order aimed at protecting premature babies in appeal to religious voters Government watchdog recommends creation of White House cyber director position Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (R-Neb.) on Friday slammed President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE’s call to reinstate Russia in the G-7, a group of major industrial powers.

“This is weak. Putin is not our friend and he is not the President’s buddy,” Sasse said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, after Trump said that Russia should participate in the G-7 summit.

The summit began Friday morning in Quebec.

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Russia was suspended from the group, then the G-8, in 2014 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Trump on Friday said Russia should be invited back.

“Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for the event.

“I would recommend — and it’s up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting, it should be a part of it," he said. “Whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run.”

Sasse condemned the move, calling Putin “a thug using Soviet-style aggression to wage a shadow war against America.”

“Our leaders should act like it,” he said of Trump.

Trump’s overture to Russia also drew criticism from Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (N.Y.), who accused Trump of “turning our foreign policy into an international joke.”

“The president’s support for inviting Russia back in to the G-7, just after they meddled in the election to support his campaign, will leave millions of Americans with serious questions and suspicions,” he added.

Some Democratic critics say Trump’s friendly treatment of Russia despite evidence it meddled in the 2016 presidential election may be an indication that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia during the campaign.