Trump to meet Xi, Putin for three-way huddle on nuclear arms talks

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to discuss nuclear arms reduction during a three-way meeting on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in China, according to the White House. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales confirmed the meeting during a press call with reporters.

The meeting, set to take place in Shenzhen, comes as a surprise to China, which typically focuses on trade and commerce during the APEC summit. China has previously resisted engaging directly with the U.S. and Russia regarding nuclear weapons, citing the massive arsenals held by both nations. Although Trump has repeatedly demanded nuclear arms cuts, a senior administration official stated that they do not expect to reach any concrete agreement.

The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired this year, leaving open the possibility for further discussions between the nations. Trump will also address the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran during the meeting, but Ukraine and its access to satellite communications from SpaceX are not expected to be on the agenda.

The Republican president will not have a one-on-one meeting with Putin or discuss Ukraine's satellite communications during his Asia trip, which includes stops in the Philippines. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is not slated to meet with Trump during his Asian tour.