TRUMP, PUTIN AND XI COULD CONVERGE IN CHINA FOR HIGH-STAKES NOVEMBER SUMMIT
Donald Trump has confirmed that he plans to attend the APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18–19, placing him at the same gathering Vladimir Putin reportedly intends to attend under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Kremlin previously floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting between the three leaders. However, no three-way meeting has yet been formally scheduled, and Moscow has not officially confirmed Putin’s attendance. Current reporting indicates that Putin plans to travel to China for APEC while likely avoiding the G20 summit hosted by the United States.
If the trilateral meeting takes place, it would bring together the leaders of three of the world’s most powerful nuclear-armed states at a moment of extraordinary global instability. The war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, China’s support for Moscow, nuclear security, trade and the growing division between competing world blocs would all hang over the room.
For Ukraine, the central concern would be whether its future is discussed without its representatives present. Putin would arrive seeking legitimacy and relief from international isolation, Xi would position China as an indispensable global power broker, and Trump would have an opportunity either to increase pressure on Moscow or allow Putin to turn the gathering into a diplomatic victory.
Three leaders attending the same summit is not automatically a trilateral negotiation. But if they sit down together in November, it will be far more than another photograph or ceremonial meeting. Decisions—or understandings—reached between Washington, Beijing and Moscow could reshape the war in Ukraine and the wider balance of power.