Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss a possible end to the four-year-old Ukraine war, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The proposal reportedly envisages negotiations on terms that would favour Moscow, although no agreement to hold the meeting has been confirmed.
The reported proposal comes amid renewed engagement between Trump and Putin, including discussions over a Russian diesel deal and a US executive order waiving key sanctions on Moscow. These developments have drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has warned that concessions to Russia could strengthen Putin’s position and prolong the conflict.
According to the WSJ report published on Sunday, Putin raised the idea during a telephone conversation with Trump on October 9. The report cited a former Russian intelligence officer who had been briefed on the matter, as well as people familiar with the discussions.
The Kremlin has reportedly explored the possibility of holding the proposed trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November 18 and 19.
Kremlin confirms discussions but says no agenda is settled
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to the WSJ that discussions were taking place about a potential meeting involving the three leaders. However, he indicated that neither the meeting itself nor its agenda had been finalised.
“There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place,” Peskov told the newspaper.
The statement suggests that the proposal remains at an exploratory stage rather than representing a confirmed diplomatic initiative with an agreed programme.
A senior US official told the WSJ that Trump had not agreed to the summit but could be receptive to the idea. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while the Kremlin could not immediately be reached outside regular business hours. The Russian and Chinese embassies in Washington also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The absence of confirmation from Washington and Beijing leaves key questions unanswered, including whether the leaders would attend, what subjects would be discussed and whether Ukraine would have any role in negotiations concerning its future.
A possible meeting on the sidelines of APEC
The APEC summit in Shenzhen provides a potential setting for the proposed meeting because the three leaders could already be engaged in diplomatic discussions around the same event.
According to the WSJ, the Kremlin has suggested arranging the trilateral dialogue alongside the November 18-19 gathering. However, the report did not establish that the summit had been formally scheduled.
A meeting between Trump, Putin and Xi would bring together leaders whose governments have different interests in the Ukraine conflict and its wider geopolitical consequences.
For Moscow, negotiations that address its security and territorial demands remain central to its preferred settlement. Washington, meanwhile, has pursued diplomatic engagement aimed at ending the war, while Beijing has maintained relations with Russia and called for a political settlement.
Whether these differing positions could be reconciled in a three-way meeting remains uncertain. Even if the leaders were to meet, a summit would not necessarily produce an immediate ceasefire or a binding agreement on the terms of peace.
The proposed timing is also significant because the conflict has continued to shape relations between Russia and Western countries, as well as security discussions across Europe and the wider international community.
Trump-Putin engagement draws attention over diesel deal
The reported summit proposal follows a telephone conversation between Trump and Putin on October 9, during which the two leaders discussed the possibility of a diesel deal, according to the WSJ report.
The reported arrangement and a US executive order waiving key sanctions on Moscow have attracted attention because sanctions have been an important part of Washington’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The details and scope of the reported diesel arrangement were not fully established in the supplied account. Nor does the reported proposal, by itself, clarify how the sanctions waiver would affect the wider US approach towards Russia.
Nevertheless, the developments have raised questions about whether closer economic engagement between Washington and Moscow could influence negotiations over Ukraine.
Sanctions have been used by the United States and its partners to put economic pressure on Russia. Any relaxation of those measures can therefore have implications for diplomatic leverage, trade and the broader international response to the conflict.
The reported engagement also comes against the background of Trump’s efforts to position himself as a key figure in attempts to end the war. Putin’s reported proposal would bring China into those discussions, potentially giving Beijing a more direct role in any high-level diplomatic initiative.
Zelenskyy warns against concessions to Moscow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised the reported US moves involving Russian diesel and sanctions relief, warning that they could embolden Putin and prolong the war.
Ukraine has consistently argued that any settlement must protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kyiv has also opposed arrangements that would allow Russia to benefit from its invasion or secure concessions without adequate guarantees for Ukraine’s future security.
The possibility of a summit involving Trump, Putin and Xi raises questions about how Ukraine’s position would be represented in discussions concerning the conflict.
Although the reported proposal centres on ending the war, the WSJ account does not establish that Ukraine would participate in the proposed meeting. Nor is there confirmation that the three leaders have agreed on a negotiating framework.
Any peace process would need to address difficult issues, including territorial control, security guarantees, military arrangements and the conditions under which hostilities could end. The positions of Ukraine and Russia on these matters have remained sharply divided.
For Kyiv, the concern is that negotiations among major powers could lead to decisions affecting Ukraine without its direct involvement. For Moscow, a diplomatic initiative involving Washington and Beijing could offer an opportunity to advance its preferred terms.
China’s role could shape wider diplomatic efforts
Xi’s potential participation would add another dimension to the proposal. China has maintained close political and economic ties with Russia while presenting itself as a supporter of a political settlement to the conflict.
Beijing’s involvement could provide an additional diplomatic channel, but it would not automatically resolve the disagreements between Russia, Ukraine and Western governments.
China’s relationship with Moscow, its economic links with Europe and the United States, and its broader international interests could all influence its approach to any trilateral discussion.
A meeting involving the three leaders could also address the wider consequences of the war for international security and economic relations. However, the specific agenda remains unclear, and the Kremlin has acknowledged that no firm understanding has been reached.
No confirmed summit or peace agreement yet
The reported proposal marks a possible diplomatic development, but the available information does not establish that Trump or Xi has accepted an invitation or that a date and agenda have been agreed.
The next key developments will be whether the three governments confirm plans for a meeting around the APEC summit and whether they outline a framework for discussions on Ukraine.
Even if the summit takes place, ending the war would require more than an agreement among the three leaders. The terms would need to address the positions and security concerns of the parties directly involved in the conflict, particularly Ukraine and Russia.
For now, Putin’s reported proposal remains an unconfirmed diplomatic initiative amid renewed contact between Moscow and Washington. Whether it leads to substantive negotiations or a breakthrough in the four-year-old war remains to be seen.