Trump offers trilateral talks with Putin and Xi on denuclearisation in China

US President Donald Trump offers trilateral meeting on denuclearisation in China

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is willing to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month, confirming media reports that the three leaders could meet on the sidelines of an Asia‑Pacific summit in Shenzhen on 18-19 November. Trump said the summit would focus on denuclearisation and might also touch on the war in Ukraine.

Trump told reporters he would participate not primarily to discuss Ukraine, saying Russia “has been fine with Ukraine” and “hasn’t been doing much,” and that the main purpose would be to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearisation. When pressed on whether Ukraine would come up, Trump said he would do “whatever I can do to end the war” and added that “it is time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.”

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that given the possibility of all three heads of state attending an APEC summit, the topic of a hypothetical meeting has been mentioned, while stressing that no substantive proposals or agreements about the meeting or its agenda have been discussed or put forward.

China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she had no information about a possible meeting. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga criticised the suggestion of a meeting without Kyiv, saying a trilateral meeting would encourage Putin to continue the war, and calling Putin “not a global leader; he is a war criminal.” The Kremlin’s Peskov also said a final settlement is impossible without participation from someone in Kyiv prepared to take responsibility.

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly ruled out meeting Volodymyr Zelensky until after a final peace deal is ready and has questioned Zelensky’s authority to sign a deal following the expiry of his five-year term under martial law. Trump has recently renewed his criticisms of President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated that he believes it is time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The statements show that leaders of the United States, Russia and China have at least discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, with denuclearisation identified by President Trump as the primary topic. Official responses remain cautious; the Kremlin framed the meeting as hypothetical with no agreed agenda, while China reported no information and Ukraine rejected talks that would exclude Kyiv. The contrast between Trump’s readiness to engage and Putin’s conditions regarding a settlement with Ukraine underlines persistent diplomatic obstacles to a negotiated resolution.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• President Donald Trump said he is willing to meet Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearisation.
• The potential meeting would take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on 18-19 November.
• The Kremlin said the meeting topic has been mentioned but no substantive proposals or agreements exist.
• China’s foreign ministry reported no information about a possible trilateral meeting.
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga criticised a meeting without Kyiv and described Putin as a war criminal.
• Vladimir Putin has ruled out meeting Volodymyr Zelensky until after a final peace deal is ready and questioned Zelensky’s authority under martial law.
• President Donald Trump said it was time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.