Trump Plans to Meet Putin and Xi at APEC Summit in Shenzhen
Donald Trump said he will travel to Shenzhen for the APEC summit on November 18–19 and expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said the talks may address denuclearization, the war in Iran and a possible agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Key points
- The APEC summit is scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, China.
- Trump expects to meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the summit.
- Possible topics include denuclearization, the war in Iran and ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Trump said the sides are very close to an agreement ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Trump announced an agreement involving Ukraine, Russia and Europe following a private meeting with Putin's envoy on November 5.
- Zelensky said Russia has the strongest interest in the meeting because it could give Moscow a significant diplomatic advantage.
Why it matters
The planned meeting could become a forum for the United States, China and Russia to discuss major international conflicts and nuclear disarmament. A possible agreement on ending the Russia-Ukraine war could affect the conflict's course and Ukraine's future, while the announced involvement of Europe broadens its potential impact. Ukraine and Europe may therefore be affected despite the lack of concrete details.
What happened
Trump said he would travel to Shenzhen for the APEC summit on November 18–19 and expected to meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. He said the meeting could address denuclearization, the war in Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war. In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, Trump said the parties were very close to an agreement ending the Russia-Ukraine war, although he did not provide specifics about what he described as Ukraine's future form. On November 5, he said he had held a private meeting with Putin's envoy and announced an agreement involving Ukraine, Russia and Europe.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the possible inclusion of Ukraine in the discussions, Trump's claim that an agreement could give Ukraine a different form and the reported proposal to discuss ending Russia's war against Ukraine. It also highlights Zelensky's assessment that Russia has the strongest interest in the meeting because the format could provide Moscow with a significant diplomatic advantage.
Background
The APEC summit is scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen. Trump has said he is willing to hold trilateral talks with Xi Jinping and Putin about arms control, with an emphasis on denuclearization. China has said it is maintaining contact with the United States and Russia about a possible meeting of the three leaders.