Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month, potentially excluding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from these discussions. Trump emphasized that the primary focus would be on nuclear disarmament, though Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine might also be addressed.
In remarks to reporters on October 19, Trump expressed his readiness to contribute to ending the conflict but questioned Zelensky’s negotiation strategy. He suggested that Ukraine might benefit from having a different representative in peace talks. Trump’s statements come amid a backdrop of recent tensions, including a Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that resulted in the deaths of six civilians, including two children, and injured 15 others. In response, Zelensky condemned the attack and called for stronger Western air defenses and sustained sanctions against Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed concerns over a potential summit involving Trump, Putin, and Xi without Ukraine’s involvement, warning that it could embolden Moscow to continue the war. Sybiha stressed that any substantial diplomatic effort should include Kyiv as a direct participant and urged Russia to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace.
The proposed summit in China follows reports of Putin seeking discussions with Trump and Xi at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. Moscow reportedly aims to engage in talks that could influence a resolution to the conflict. The Kremlin confirmed discussions about a possible three-way meeting but noted no formal proposal or agenda had been established. Meanwhile, China also indicated it had no information regarding such a summit.
The diplomatic developments occur amid growing frictions between Washington and Kyiv concerning sanctions, military support, and terms for ending the war. Ukraine remains firm on the stance that its future should not be decided without its direct involvement in negotiations.