Will Xi, Trump, Putin meet at Apec? First, they must agree on agenda

As U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed openness to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming APEC summit, it remains uncertain whether the three leaders will actually sit down together in the coming weeks. Experts suggest that the likelihood of a trilateral meeting hinges heavily on whether the nations can agree on an agenda, a point underscored by one observer who called it a "critical lever."

Russia stands to benefit the most from such a summit, as it would signify the country's departure from international isolation and underscore its status as a great power. While Trump would demonstrate his ability to negotiate with these powers, it could potentially undermine the confidence of U.S. allies.

Speculation has been rife regarding the possibility of the three leaders, all of whom are expected to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, engaging in an unprecedented trilateral discussion. Russian President Putin had previously voiced his support for such a meeting, but stressed that a clear agenda would be essential. He acknowledged that "such a trilateral meeting is certainly possible, to a large extent, this will depend on the agenda."