Putin proposes summit with Trump and China
Proposal linked to APEC summit
The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin suggested a trilateral meeting during a November visit to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The event is scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen.
The reported purpose would be to discuss ending the Ukraine conflict. The WSJ, citing people familiar with the discussions, said Putin’s proposed terms would be favourable to Moscow.
Trump has not agreed
The proposal reportedly arose during a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump on October 9. A former Russian intelligence officer briefed on the matter was cited by the WSJ.
The White House had not confirmed Trump’s participation. Reuters said it had requested comment, while the report described the discussions as preliminary and said no agenda had been finalised.
Kremlin says plans remain tentative
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the WSJ that the meeting and its possible agenda were not yet clearly understood. He said all three parties recognised that such a meeting could hypothetically take place.
The article also reports that the October 9 call resulted in a diesel agreement between Russia and the United States. Trump said he was pursuing peace talks and did not want to push Russia away from negotiations.
Ukraine conflict remains central
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticised Trump’s diesel agreement with Putin and an executive order waiving sanctions on Moscow. The proposed summit would bring together the leaders of Russia, the United States and China.
Trump also said Russia was doing little to assist Iran, and raised Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries and their effects on fuel markets. The report gives no indication that a summit has been confirmed.
Key points
- Putin reportedly proposed a meeting with Trump and Xi Jinping in Shenzhen on November 18–19.
- The leaders would discuss a possible settlement of the Ukraine war.
- Trump has not agreed to attend, and no agenda has been finalised.
- The Kremlin described the possibility of a meeting as hypothetical and discussions as preliminary.