In a move that has caught diplomats off guard, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a three-way summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal first reported the proposal on Sunday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
According to the report, Putin raised the idea during a telephone call with Trump on October 9. That same call produced a separate arrangement for the US to buy Russian diesel and help distribute it globally, a deal already drawing sharp criticism from Kyiv.
The Kremlin has suggested holding the trilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China. If it happens, it would be the first time the US, Russian and Chinese leaders sat together to decide the fate of a European war.
What the Kremlin has confirmed
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to the Journal that talks about a possible meeting were underway, though he was careful to say nothing was settled. “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,” he said.
A senior US official told the newspaper that Trump had not formally agreed to the summit but could be receptive to it, given his long-stated desire to end the conflict. Trump had promised during his campaign to settle the war on “day one” of his term. He is now approaching two years in office, and the fighting continues.
Russian diplomats have also presented the proposal to Beijing through diplomatic channels, the report said. Chinese officials indicated they would not object to the meeting if Trump agreed to take part, a signal that positions Xi as a potential power broker between Washington and Moscow.
The elephant in the room: Ukraine is not invited
The most striking feature is who would not be at the table. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have no seat in a discussion about his own country’s future, a detail that has alarmed Kyiv and Washington’s European allies.
Zelenskyy has already warned that Trump’s recent moves toward Moscow, including the diesel deal and Friday’s sanctions waiver, would embolden Putin and prolong the war rather than end it.
The Journal reported that a former Russian intelligence officer said Putin viewed the format as a modern equivalent of the 1945 Yalta Conference, where the World War II victors divided post-war Europe into spheres of influence. That comparison suggests Moscow sees the summit as a venue to negotiate over Ukraine’s head.
Trump says talks are making “great progress”
On Sunday, Trump said negotiations to end the conflict were making “great progress.” In a post on Truth Social, he defended his approach toward Moscow, saying he did not want to push Russia away from the negotiating table.
The warming ties between the two leaders have unsettled diplomatic circles. The diesel purchase, the sanctions waiver, and now the summit proposal suggest a relationship moving faster than many expected, and one Ukraine’s allies fear could produce a deal favorable to Moscow at Kyiv’s expense.
Why the APEC summit in Shenzhen matters
Shenzhen, the southern Chinese tech hub hosting this year’s APEC gathering, would be neutral ground with Chinese characteristics. Holding the talks on the summit’s sidelines would give Xi a starring role as host and mediator, while letting all three leaders claim they were simply using a multilateral venue.
The Journal noted that such a summit, without Ukraine’s involvement, would be unprecedented and would alarm European capitals.
What happens next
- The White House has not confirmed Trump’s attendance. A senior US official said he had not agreed but could be open to the idea.
- The Kremlin says all three sides acknowledge the “hypothetical possibility” of a meeting, but no agenda or format is agreed.
- China has signalled it would not object if Trump says yes, clearing the diplomatic path if Washington moves.
- Ukraine and European allies are expected to push back against any negotiation that excludes Kyiv.
The proposal is a reminder that the war’s endgame may be decided in rooms Ukraine cannot enter. Whether Trump walks into such a room next month in Shenzhen will shape not just the war, but the balance of power for years to come.
FAQs
What has Putin proposed?
A trilateral summit next month with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, reported by The Wall Street Journal on October 19.
When and where would the summit happen?
The Kremlin has suggested holding it on the sidelines of the APEC summit on November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China.
Has Trump agreed to attend?
Not yet. A senior US official said he has not agreed but could be receptive, given his campaign promise to end the war.
Why is Ukraine concerned?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not be represented at the summit, raising fears that a deal favorable to Moscow could be negotiated over Kyiv’s head.
What was the US-Russia diesel deal?
During the same October 9 call, Trump and Putin discussed a deal for the US to buy Russian diesel and help sell it globally, alongside a US waiver of key sanctions on Moscow.
This is a developing story. Informeia will update this article as official responses come in.
