Trump open to talks with Putin, Xi on Ukraine war

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Monday about the prospect of a three-way nuclear talks involving Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin next month in China. According to Trump, the United States currently possesses more nuclear weapons than any other nation, with Russia in second place and China third, though China is rapidly catching up.

In an interview with reporters, Trump stated that they would arrange a meeting focused on denuclearization, which he considered a positive development for the world.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's annual summit is scheduled for mid-November in Shenzhen, China, where Xi will preside. Both the United States and Russia are members of the 21-member Pacific Rim forum, which also includes Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Putin suggested a meeting with Trump and Xi during a phone call on October 9, according to a former Russian intelligence officer familiar with the subject.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions surrounding such an arrangement were underway.

When asked if he had agreed to a three-way meeting with Xi and Putin, Trump responded that it was contingent on their willingness. He mentioned that he would be visiting China in November, but the primary focus would not be on Ukraine, as he believed Russia had already taken appropriate actions regarding the conflict. However, Trump reiterated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that Zelenskyy had not effectively concluded the war and should have made a better deal if he had followed Trump's advice.

This interview comes amid renewed calls for China's involvement in potential nuclear disarmament discussions, as the U.S. and Russia's New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has recently expired. This marks the first time in over five decades that no legally binding framework exists to regulate their nuclear arsenals, raising the specter of a new global arms race.

While Trump advocated for including China in such negotiations, Beijing has consistently dismissed the notion of trilateral disarmament talks, asserting that its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller compared to the United States and Russia, which together hold approximately 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.