Putin Proposes Three-Way Meeting with Trump and Xi on Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a three-way meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. The proposed meeting, which would exclude Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, was reportedly raised by Moscow in connection with the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Shenzhen, China. The Chinese side has reportedly approached U.S. counterparts for clarification regarding the desire for such a meeting.

The Kremlin confirmed that discussions about a potential meeting between Putin, Trump, and Xi had occurred hypothetically, but emphasized that no concrete proposals or agreements regarding the meeting itself, its agenda, or its content have been put forward by any party. China's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the matter.

The proposal comes after Trump publicly stated that it is "time for somebody else" to negotiate for Ukraine and that Zelensky "doesn’t want to end this war." Trump also indicated he is "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." He also accused Ukraine of harming U.S. businesses by striking Russian diesel refineries and signed an executive order pausing a sanctions package targeting the Russian economy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters, acknowledged that talks had been discussed but not finalized, stating that Trump is "open to anything that he can do to help bring the war to an end, if it’s possible." Trump himself confirmed he was open to meeting with Putin and Xi without the Ukrainian president, but did not confirm if such talks would take place.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the idea of a meeting in China without Kyiv's input, arguing that a trilateral meeting between Russia, China, and the U.S. would "do only the opposite" of ending the war, potentially encouraging Putin. He suggested that a meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia could help end the war sooner.

The timing of Russia's proposal, amid heightened conflict and targeting of infrastructure, may indicate an attempt by the Kremlin to capitalize on perceived rifts in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. Zelensky had recently accused the Trump administration of restricting Kyiv's access to Starlink satellite internet service without warning, an allegation denied by Trump and Rubio.

A three-way meeting could potentially overshadow the APEC forum itself, which China is set to host. Beijing may also be cautious of alienating the European Union, a significant supporter of Ukraine and a crucial trading partner for China.

While the Kremlin stated that a final peace deal is impossible without the participation of a Ukrainian leadership willing to take responsibility, the prospects for such a tripartite discussion remain uncertain, with both Washington and Beijing yet to formally commit. The last U.S.-mediated peace talks occurred in February before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.