Washington DC: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the war in Ukraine, with Moscow seeking a peace settlement favourable to its interests, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The proposal, which could bring the three leaders together on the sidelines of an upcoming regional summit in China, has raised concerns over Ukraine’s exclusion from discussions that could shape the future of the conflict.
According to the WSJ, Putin floated the idea during a telephone conversation with Trump on October 9. Citing a former Russian intelligence official briefed on the matter, the report said the Kremlin subsequently explored the proposal with Chinese officials.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting were underway but said no concrete arrangements or agenda had been finalised.
“There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place,” Peskov told the newspaper.
A senior US official told the WSJ that Trump had not formally agreed to the proposed summit but could be receptive to the idea as he continues efforts to broker an end to the war.
APEC Summit Could Provide Meeting Opportunity
According to the report, Moscow has suggested holding the trilateral talks alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen, China.
Russian diplomats have reportedly conveyed the proposal to Beijing, with Chinese officials indicating they would not oppose the meeting if Trump agreed to participate.
The possibility of a meeting comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said Putin and Trump held a “very substantive” and friendly telephone conversation earlier this month that lasted about 90 minutes.
The leaders discussed economic initiatives, energy supplies and international issues, Ushakov said, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Ushakov added that both presidents were interested in attending the upcoming APEC summit and could meet in person if they were present at the same venue. However, he said no specific date had been discussed.
Energy cooperation was among the key subjects of the conversation, including potential Russian petroleum product supplies to the United States and international markets.
Trump subsequently said on Truth Social that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to US and global markets, with further shipments expected in the coming months.
Trump Defends Russia Policy Amid Ukraine Peace Push
Trump on Sunday said negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war were making “great progress” while defending his administration’s approach to maintaining dialogue with Moscow.
In a Truth Social post, the US president argued that Washington should avoid actions that could push Russia away from negotiations. He also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming Ukraine had missed an opportunity to secure a better agreement two years earlier.
“My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table,” Trump wrote.
He added that progress was also being made in ongoing hostage negotiations and said he could sign a related document at a later stage.
The proposed trilateral summit, if it materialises, would bring together leaders of the United States, Russia and China at a critical juncture in efforts to end the war. However, Ukraine’s absence from the proposed format could complicate diplomatic efforts, particularly if discussions touch on territorial questions or the terms of a settlement.
Xi’s potential participation would also place China at the centre of a high-level diplomatic initiative. The Chinese president visited the United States from September 23-25, during which he held talks with Trump on bilateral relations and broader international issues.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the exchange as candid and in-depth, conducted in a friendly atmosphere of mutual respect.
With no formal agreement on the proposed summit yet, its timing, agenda and prospects remain uncertain.
