United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next week, raising expectations of a potentially historic diplomatic engagement involving three of the world’s most powerful leaders.
Trump disclosed his expectations on Sunday, November 8, while speaking to journalists before departing Florida for Washington. He said he anticipated meeting both leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, southern China.
“One of the meetings, I think, will be with President Putin and President Xi, and that’ll be interesting,” Trump told reporters, adding that discussions could cover several international issues, including denuclearisation and efforts to end the ongoing war in Iran.
The proposed gathering could mark an unprecedented diplomatic moment, bringing together the leaders of the United States, Russia and China for discussions at a time of heightened international tensions.
Although Trump expressed confidence about the possibility of the meeting, its precise format and agenda have yet to be formally confirmed.
One of the major issues expected to feature in the discussions is nuclear arms control. Trump has previously expressed interest in negotiating an agreement involving Washington, Moscow and Beijing to reduce nuclear weapons and prevent an escalation of global security threats.
The proposed engagement also comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to address the Russia-Ukraine war, which has continued to destabilise European security since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Reports by the Wall Street Journal indicated that Putin had proposed using a trilateral meeting to explore possible arrangements for ending the conflict.
Trump, meanwhile, has suggested that negotiations towards ending the war could be approaching a breakthrough. Speaking in an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, he said he believed the United States was close to reaching a deal, although he provided no details about the proposed settlement.
The possibility of bringing Putin and Xi into discussions on the conflict is significant, given China’s close economic and diplomatic relationship with Russia and Washington’s continuing efforts to influence Moscow’s calculations.
Iran is another major concern for the American president. Trump said discussions with the two leaders would include efforts to end the war involving Iran, although the precise role he expects China and Russia to play remains unclear.
China’s participation could be particularly important because of its economic influence and diplomatic relationship with Tehran.
The proposed meeting also comes against the background of fragile trade relations between Washington and Beijing. Trump is expected to hold discussions with Xi to sustain a trade understanding between the two countries, which faces renewed uncertainty as its current arrangements approach a January deadline.
For Putin, a meeting with Trump and Xi could offer an opportunity to strengthen Russia’s international diplomatic visibility following years of Western isolation over the Ukraine invasion.
However, analysts have cautioned that a historic gathering does not automatically translate into concrete agreements, particularly because the three countries have competing strategic interests.
Whether the proposed meeting produces meaningful diplomatic progress or remains largely symbolic, the expected engagement in Shenzhen will attract considerable international attention.
