Trump, Xi, Putin meet next week: Why fears of a 'Yalta 2.0' are growing

Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin are set to convene in China's Shenzhen next week, potentially igniting fears reminiscent of the 1945 Yalta Conference. The summit, tentatively scheduled as part of the APEC forum, is generating apprehension over the possibility of major powers deliberating on global issues without the participation of nations directly impacted, such as Ukraine.

Discussions are in progress, but no definitive agenda or format has been established. Topics under deliberation encompass the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, nuclear arms control, and artificial intelligence. The proposed gathering has drawn comparisons to the Yalta Conference, where US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin convened to discuss the post-war settlement, including the division of Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned against a similar scenario, expressing concern over decisions on territorial disputes, security arrangements, or spheres of influence being made without their input. Each leader brings distinct priorities to the table: Putin seeks to address the Ukraine war, Trump expresses interest in nuclear arms control, while China, with its comparatively smaller nuclear arsenal, has been hesitant to engage in such talks.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has stated they are communicating with relevant parties but are withholding further details. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, affirmed that suggestions for an agenda are being exchanged, describing the meeting as "certainly interesting" and drawing global attention.