G7 leaders were scrambling on Friday night for a face-saving statement that could paper over the deep rifts caused by Donald Trump's assault on global trade rules and his unilateralist approach to foreign policy.

Hours earlier he provoked a furious backlash from the UK and other world leaders by calling for Russia to rejoin the group.

But the talks were dominated by the need to find common ground on trade and senior figures, including Mr Trump, suggested that some kind of joint statement on the need to jointly re-examine commercial relationships might be found before their summit ends on Saturday.

Yet any consensus document is unlikely to mend the damage done by the American leader's decision to impose stiff tariffs on Washington's closest allies.

In contrast, as he set off for the summit, he had warm words for Moscow.