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

The possibility of a trilateral summit between U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming APEC summit in Shenzhen, China remains uncertain. While Trump has expressed openness to meeting with his Chinese and Russian counterparts, it is far from guaranteed that the three leaders will actually meet in the coming weeks. According to experts, the key to such a summit would be the agreement on an agenda, a factor described as "critical" by one observer.

Russia's potential gain from a trilateral meeting is significant, as it would symbolize an end to the country's international isolation and affirm its status as a great power. For U.S. President Trump, a meeting with the other two leaders would demonstrate his ability to engage with global powers. However, this could potentially unsettle U.S. allies.

Speculation has been mounting about whether the three leaders, who are all expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, will hold an unprecedented sit-down on the sidelines. Russian President Putin has previously indicated his support for a trilateral meeting, but emphasized that a clear agenda would be essential. He stated, "Certainly possible. To a large extent, this will depend on the agenda."