Putin proposes trilateral meeting with Trump, Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine war next month

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine war next month. The meeting is intended to facilitate a settlement favorable to Moscow and could take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China on November 18 and 19.

However, Trump has not agreed to the meeting, according to a senior US official. The proposal raised concerns as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders would be excluded from the discussions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions about a possible meeting but did not confirm its agenda or whether it would take place.

The proposal came during a phone call between Putin and Trump on October 9, where Putin also arranged for US purchases of Russian diesel fuel. The summit would provide an opportunity for Xi to strengthen China's position as a global diplomatic power and present China as a potential intermediary between Washington and Moscow. However, the meeting could complicate China's relations with Europe due to Beijing's support for Moscow.