Trump plans meetings with Xi and Putin at APEC summit in China

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the upcoming APEC summit in Shenzhen, southern China. Scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, the summit is expected to serve as a platform for high-level diplomatic discussions regarding global security and regional stability. President Trump indicated that these meetings would cover a wide range of critical international topics, specifically highlighting the issues of denuclearization and the ongoing war in Iran.

Diplomatic objectives and regional conflicts

The proposed meetings aim to address several long-standing geopolitical tensions. Beyond denuclearization and the conflict in Iran, President Trump has expressed optimism regarding the resolution of the war between Russia and Ukraine. On November 8, 2026, the U.S. President stated his belief that an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war is very close to being reached. While he did not provide specific details regarding the terms of such a settlement, he noted that any resulting agreement would leave Ukraine in a "slightly different form."

The potential for these discussions has been bolstered by recent diplomatic signals. Last month, President Trump expressed a positive stance toward engaging in trilateral arms control discussions involving the United States, China, and Russia. According to reports from a major American news outlet, President Putin has proposed using a trilateral meeting as a venue to discuss ending the prolonged war in Ukraine. If these meetings proceed as planned, a formal trilateral gathering between the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia would mark a historic first in international diplomacy.

Context of trilateral negotiations

The prospect of a three-way summit carries significant weight given the historical complexities of nuclear negotiations. While the U.S. has shown openness to trilateral arms control, China has previously maintained a negative stance regarding negotiations for a trilateral nuclear disarmament framework. This shift in approach, if realized, would represent a notable change in the diplomatic landscape of East Asia and the broader international community.

Regarding the feasibility of these high-level talks, Japanese media reported that a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that communications are currently occurring between the relevant countries. While the specific details of these communications remain private, the acknowledgment suggests that the groundwork for the Shenzhen summit is being laid. The upcoming meetings in China will likely be closely watched by the international community as they attempt to navigate the complex interests of the world's three most powerful nations.

Glossary

• APEC summit — The APEC summit is a platform for high-level diplomatic discussions regarding global security and regional stability. It serves as a venue for leaders to address critical international topics and geopolitical tensions.