Trump Confirms Talks on Three Power Summit in China

The United States, Russia and China are discussing a possible three-way summit in November that could bring Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping together in China to address international security and the war in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the idea had been discussed, although no agreement has been reached on the meeting's date, location or agenda. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal cited by French outlets Radio France and L'Express, Moscow proposed holding the meeting alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen, southern China.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European representatives would not be included in the proposed format. Rubio confirmed the discussions during a visit to Uzbekistan on Monday, according to VOV World. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov also acknowledged that talks were underway, telling The Wall Street Journal that the three governments had considered the possibility without reaching a concrete agreement.

"There is currently no concrete agreement on the meeting itself or its potential content, although all three parties have acknowledged the possibility of such a meeting," said Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin spokesman.

Reports indicate that Putin raised the proposal during a telephone conversation with Trump on October 9. The two leaders also discussed an agreement concerning diesel deliveries, according to L'Express. Trump subsequently confirmed that he had discussed a potential meeting with Putin, indicating that nuclear weapons would be a principal topic. The proposed summit would be unprecedented in its three-country format and could give Moscow a prominent role in negotiations over Ukraine.

Trump has faced criticism over recent decisions favoring Moscow, including lifting certain energy-related sanctions against Russia. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, October 18, he accused Zelensky of obstructing efforts to end the conflict. Trump accused the Ukrainian president of "not wanting to end" the war, according to L'Express. He also wrote, "He probably never wanted [to do so]."

The American president has repeatedly argued that he wants to end the conflict, a central promise of his presidential campaign. In the same message, he declared, "I want this war to end." Trump has also criticized Kyiv over attacks on Russian oil refineries and described working with Zelensky as "more difficult" than dealing with Putin, according to L'Express.

These remarks have intensified concerns that Washington could increase pressure on Ukraine to accept terms favorable to Moscow. Another possible factor in the diplomatic maneuvering is Russia's relationship with Iran. Radio France reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Tehran after Trump suggested that Moscow was doing relatively little to assist Iran.

Trump described Russia's assistance to Iran as limited "compared with what it could do." He added, "I want it to stay that way, and it will unless stupid people interfere."

Lavrov's visit raised the possibility of Russian mediation between Washington and Tehran, although the available reports do not establish that such a role has been agreed upon. The developments come amid continuing conflict involving Ukraine and heightened tensions surrounding Iran. The prospect of negotiations without Ukraine or European governments has prompted concern about their influence over decisions affecting regional security.

Ukrainian leaders have opposed arrangements that could impose a settlement without their participation. Zelensky has characterized the prospect of being pressured into accepting unfavorable terms as "capitulation," according to Radio France. The proposed trilateral format would leave Kyiv outside direct negotiations if the meeting proceeds as described.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also warned about the risks of exclusion from major diplomatic negotiations. "If you are not at the table, you are on the menu," Carney said, according to Radio France.

The proposed gathering has historical echoes of the Yalta Conference in February 1945, when US President Franklin Roosevelt, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met to discuss the postwar order. However, the modern proposal remains preliminary, and the three governments have not announced a confirmed summit. Trump is also approaching the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, which could affect his political room for maneuver. The possible meeting in Shenzhen on November 18-19 remains under discussion, with no finalized agreement on participation or the agenda.