Xi, Trump and Putin may hold trilateral meeting at next Apec forum, Kremlin says

Russian and Chinese officials have suggested that a meeting might take place between Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen, China. Apec leaders are set to convene on November 18 and 19, which could allow for potential bilateral meetings between the three leaders.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed on Russian state television that such a conversation was discussed, while stressing that it's too early to confirm the meeting's timing or format.

The upcoming meeting could coincide with President Trump's attendance at the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Florida, contingent on Chinese President Xi's agreement to participate. Despite tensions between the US and China, Trump has expressed a positive relationship with Xi. However, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized China for refusing to endorse a joint communique at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting, arguing that the country's surplus and other issues highlight the need to address trade imbalances.

Some US analysts argue that a trilateral meeting between Xi, Trump, and Putin could weaken Western alliances, given Trump's recent criticism of allies such as Canada, Europe, and South Korea. By sidelining key partners, this meeting might encourage Russia and China to test existing alliances further, with consequences for international security. While China has not offered any specific details regarding the potential meeting, the Chinese embassy in Washington has stated it has no announcements to make at this time.