Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in China next week. The proposed discussions could cover the Iran war, nuclear disarmament and efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters before flying back to Washington from Florida on Sunday, Trump said he expected the summit to provide an opportunity for discussions with both leaders. The APEC meeting is scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, a major technology and business hub in southern China.
“One of the meetings, I think, will be with President Putin and President Xi, and that’ll be interesting,” Trump said.
He added that the discussions could cover several international issues, including denuclearisation and the ongoing war in Iran. Trump said the United States was working to bring the conflict to an end.
The proposed meetings would bring together the leaders of three major powers at a time when international security concerns include the Iran conflict, Russia’s war in Ukraine and questions surrounding nuclear weapons.
However, Trump described the meetings as something he expected to take place rather than confirming a final schedule. Details of the proposed discussions, including whether all three leaders would meet together, were not provided.
Trump wants to discuss denuclearisation with Xi and Putin
Trump’s latest remarks follow his comments in October, when he said he was open to trilateral arms-control discussions with Xi and Putin.
At the time, the US President indicated that denuclearisation would be a central subject of such talks. His latest statement suggests that he continues to see a possible meeting with the Chinese and Russian leaders as an opportunity to address nuclear security.
The participation of China and Russia would be significant because both countries are major nuclear powers alongside the United States. Any discussion on reducing nuclear risks would involve complex questions about weapons stockpiles, military capabilities, verification and the security interests of each country.
Trump did not outline a proposed framework or specify what commitments he wanted the three countries to consider. He also did not provide details about whether the discussions would lead to formal negotiations or remain at the level of an initial exchange of views.
The possibility of a trilateral meeting comes amid wider concerns about the future of international arms-control arrangements. Differences between Washington, Beijing and Moscow over strategic security have made negotiations on nuclear weapons a difficult diplomatic issue.
For now, Trump’s comments indicate an intention to place denuclearisation on the agenda if he meets Xi and Putin in Shenzhen.
Iran war likely to feature in proposed discussions
Trump also identified the Iran war as a subject he wants to discuss with the Chinese and Russian leaders.
He said the United States was trying to end the conflict, although he did not provide details of any diplomatic initiative or explain what role he expected Beijing and Moscow to play.
Iran remains an important issue in relations between the three powers. China and Russia have their own diplomatic and strategic interests in the region, while Washington has been directly involved in efforts concerning the conflict.
A discussion involving all three leaders could provide an opportunity to exchange views on the war and possible ways to bring it to an end. However, no specific agreement or outcome has been announced.
Trump’s remarks also suggest that the proposed summit discussions could extend beyond the formal APEC agenda. The gathering is expected to bring together leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, but bilateral and wider geopolitical meetings often form an important part of such international events.
The US President has not said whether the Iran issue would be discussed in a joint meeting with Xi and Putin or through separate conversations with each leader.
Putin reportedly wants Ukraine conflict included
The proposed talks could also touch on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Putin had proposed using a trilateral meeting with Trump and Xi to discuss ending the conflict, which has continued for years.
Trump separately spoke about the possibility of a peace agreement during an interview with CBS programme 60 Minutes. He said he believed the United States was close to securing a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“I believe we’re very close to making a deal,” Trump said.
He suggested that any eventual settlement could leave Ukraine in a “little bit different shape”, but did not explain what territorial, political or security changes he was referring to.
His comments did not establish that an agreement had been reached or that the parties had accepted a specific settlement proposal.
The war remains a major international security issue, with any negotiations involving difficult questions about territory, sovereignty, security guarantees and the future relationship between Ukraine and Russia.
A meeting involving Trump, Putin and Xi could therefore provide a platform for discussions, although it remains unclear whether Ukraine-related negotiations would be formally included in the summit agenda.
Shenzhen summit could become an important diplomatic opportunity
The APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19 is expected to bring together representatives of economies across the Asia-Pacific region. Trump’s anticipated visit could also create opportunities for high-level engagement between Washington and Beijing.
A meeting with Xi would be particularly relevant to US-China relations, which involve trade, technology, regional security and strategic competition. A separate or joint discussion with Putin would bring the Ukraine conflict and wider European security concerns into focus.
The prospect of all three leaders discussing denuclearisation also places nuclear security among the potential subjects of the summit.
Nevertheless, several details remain uncertain. Trump has said he expects to meet Xi and Putin, but the precise format, timing and agenda of the discussions have not been confirmed. It is also unclear whether the proposed conversations will produce concrete diplomatic steps.
The summit could offer an opportunity for the leaders to exchange positions on some of the most pressing international issues. Whether those discussions lead to progress on Iran, Ukraine or nuclear arms control will depend on the positions each government brings to the table and the willingness of the countries involved to pursue further negotiations.