Putin suggests meeting with Trump, Xi, to discuss Ukraine war resolution - report

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The meeting would take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, southern China, on November 18 and 19.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would not be part of the discussions, which could alarm European countries. Putin first proposed the meeting during a conversation with Trump on October 9, and both leaders agreed that the US would buy Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its sale. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions over the potential meeting were ongoing, but there is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its agenda.

A senior US official stated that Trump had not agreed to the meeting, but may be receptive due to his desire to end the war. The report comes amid tensions between Trump and Zelensky, with Zelensky accusing Trump of emboldening Moscow to continue attacking Ukraine, while Trump called on Zelensky to stop attacking Russian diesel refineries.

Analysts believe a meeting between the three leaders could advance China's ambitions for global diplomacy, but Chinese officials have expressed concerns about the meeting overshadowing China's role in the region at APEC.