Moscow Says Putin–Trump–Xi Meeting in Shenzhen Under Preparation Ahead of APEC Summit
A senior Kremlin aide says Russia, China and the United States are “in principle” ready for a three‑way meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on 18–19 November.
The Kremlin says it has started preparing for a possible three‑way meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at next month’s Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China, signaling an attempt to bring the leaders of Russia, China and the United States into one room.
On 25 October, Yuri Ushakov, an assistant to Russia’s president, reported that preparations were under way for a trilateral meeting involving the Russian, Chinese and U.S. leaders on the margins of the APEC summit due to take place on 18–19 November in Shenzhen. According to Ushakov, Moscow, Beijing and Washington are “in principle” ready for the talks. There has been no public confirmation from the U.S. side in this material.
The prospect of such a session would place the heads of state of the three countries with the largest global reach at the same table while relations are strained on multiple fronts, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to U.S.–China tensions over security and trade. It would also feature Donald Trump as the U.S. participant, reflecting his political status at this stage.
For people in these countries and beyond, the outcome of any direct engagement can affect sanctions regimes, military postures and economic measures that show up in energy prices, investment decisions and local security risks. Even a brief conversation among the three leaders could influence how crises are managed in the months that follow.
Organizing a trilateral encounter would require careful planning. The United States and China have deep disagreements over Taiwan, export controls and military activity in the Western Pacific. Russia and the United States maintain limited direct contacts to avoid incidents in areas such as Ukraine and Syria. China and Russia present themselves as partners in challenging U.S. influence while pursuing their own interests.
For Moscow, publicizing the idea of a Putin–Trump–Xi meeting underscores its claim to remain central to major diplomatic discussions despite sanctions and political isolation in parts of the West. Hosting the discussion in Shenzhen would give Beijing an opportunity to present itself as a key venue for global diplomacy. For Washington, appearing at such a meeting would be weighed against domestic political debate and the wider U.S. approach to both Russia and China.
In the weeks before the summit, the main signals to watch will be any clearer statements from the White House and Chinese leadership about their willingness to take part, indications of an agreed agenda, and consultations with allies who could be affected by any understandings reached. If the meeting goes ahead, the wording of official readouts and any side announcements will help show whether it produces substantive shifts or remains largely symbolic.
Sources
- OSINT