Trump signals openness to trilateral summit with Putin and Xi in China

OPA WIRE, Oct 20 (OPA) — President Trump stated he is prepared to engage in a three-way summit with his Russian and Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, scheduled for Nov. 18-19 in Shenzhen. While Trump emphasized that the primary objective of such a meeting would be to address global nuclear disarmament, he acknowledged the potential for discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

“I would do it, not so much for Ukraine, because Russia, frankly, has been fine with Ukraine,” Trump told reporters Monday. When pressed on whether he would use the platform to push for an end to the hostilities, he added, “I would do whatever I can do to end the war.” Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting it is time for a different representative to negotiate on Kyiv’s behalf.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the possibility of a trilateral meeting has been discussed, though he noted that no formal agenda or substantive proposals have been established. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated she had no information regarding such a meeting. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga strongly opposed the prospect of a summit excluding Kyiv, arguing that such a meeting would embolden Moscow’s military efforts.

Despite the diplomatic maneuvering, the path to a formal negotiation remains fraught with tension. Putin has consistently refused to engage with Zelensky, citing the expiration of the Ukrainian leader’s term under martial law. As the APEC summit approaches, the prospect of a high-level trilateral meeting remains speculative, with no official confirmation from Beijing or Moscow that a formal sit-down has been scheduled.