President Donald Trump has stated his openness to a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with the goal of discussing “denuclearization.” Trump suggested that such a meeting, if it were to occur, would ideally take place in China.
The three leaders are expected to be present at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen.
Trump’s comments came in response to a reported proposal from Putin for a three-way meeting. The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, indicated that Putin suggested the summit in an Oct. 9 call, aiming to potentially broker an end to the war in Ukraine. However, Trump clarified that his focus for a trilateral summit would be on nuclear weapons rather than the conflict in Ukraine.
This aspiration aligns with Trump’s past statements. During his first presidential term, he mused about reducing the defense spending of the three nations and expressed a desire for a “meaningful halt to what has become a major and uncontrollable Arms Race.” He has also stated a broader goal to “de-nuke the world.”
Global Nuclear Landscape
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as of January 2026, the world held an estimated 12,187 nuclear warheads, with approximately 9,745 in military stockpiles. Russia possesses the largest number of these weapons, with the United States closely following; together, they account for 83% of the global total. China holds over 600 nuclear warheads, representing 6% of the global stockpile, and SIPRI notes that Beijing is expanding its arsenal more rapidly than any other country.
SIPRI forecasts that Russian and U.S. deployments of new nuclear warheads are likely to increase in the coming years. Russia’s increase is attributed to military modernization enabling missiles to carry more warheads, while Washington's potential rise could stem from deploying more warheads to existing launchers, reactivating empty launchers, or adding new non-strategic nuclear weapons.
Trump has previously attempted to engage China in nuclear arms reduction talks, a goal that proved unsuccessful during negotiations to extend the New START treaty. The U.S. continues to seek Beijing's participation, but China has historically rejected these efforts, asserting that the U.S. and Russia must first reduce their substantially larger arsenals.
Discussion of Ukraine War
Putin’s initial proposal for a trilateral summit reportedly focused on the Ukraine war, a prospect that Ukraine has rejected. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that while a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia could hasten the war’s end, a summit between Russia, China, and the U.S. would likely encourage Russia to continue its military actions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that a final peace deal would necessitate Ukraine's involvement, but noted that a direct trilateral meeting might not require Kyiv's participation in initial discussions. Recent actions by Trump, including a diesel deal with Russia and the suspension of scheduled sanctions, have drawn criticism from some of his allies. He has also urged Ukraine to cease striking Russian refineries and suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be replaced.