Talks underway for historic Xi-Trump-Putin meet

Beijing has officially disclosed its preliminary plans for a historic gathering among Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting would take place this month during a regional summit in Shenzhen, a city in southern China.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, confirmed at a press briefing that China is in communication with other parties regarding the potential meeting. If it occurs, it would be a historic event, although experts believe the leaders' opposing interests may lead to a photo opportunity rather than substantive discussions.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, suggests that China desires the image of the summit while avoiding the potential costs. Beijing is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this year, attended by 21 member countries, including the U.S. and Russia.

U.S. President Trump is expected to attend the Shenzhen meeting for the third time this year, aiming to maintain a fragile trade truce that expires in January. However, tensions remain, as the U.S. Trade Representative, Jamie Greer, urged China to take concrete actions to fulfill past commitments, especially regarding agricultural purchases, rare earths, and other critical minerals.

During his visit to China, Trump expressed interest in discussing nuclear arms controls with Xi and Putin, although Putin is more focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and believes Kyiv should not be involved in the talks. Russian President Putin stands to gain the most from a trilateral meeting, making the diplomatic coup a notable achievement.

Danny Russel, a former senior State Department official, notes that Trump would welcome the meeting, while advising him to steer clear of Ukraine as a topic. Russian use of the summit to influence Chinese and U.S. positions on Ukraine is anticipated, while China must manage Russian manipulation.

China's primary challenge may lie in the perception of the summit, which should not be seen as a power arrangement dividing the world. The meeting might only result in a photo opportunity, with diminishing diplomatic returns, according to Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.