WorldTrending
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly proposed a trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The proposed meeting, which would exclude Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was mentioned during an October 9 phone call.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested a summit involving himself, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The proposal was made during a phone call between Putin and Trump on Oct. 9, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a former Russian intelligence officer briefed on the matter.
The proposed summit is not confirmed. If it takes place, it would not involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal indicate the Kremlin proposed holding the trilateral talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for 18-19 November in Shenzhen, China.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting were under way. "There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place," he told The Wall Street Journal.
A senior U.S. official stated that Trump had not yet agreed to hold such a summit. However, the official noted that the U.S. president might view the idea favorably given his desire to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war. The White House declined to comment, and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
The same Oct. 9 phone call reportedly produced a deal for Moscow to sell diesel oil on the global market. This development coincides with recent U.S. actions that have drawn criticism from Ukraine and some European allies.
On Oct. 18, Trump issued an executive order to waive new Russia sanctions from a bill introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Trump defended his decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports in a post on X. He stated that his decision for sanctions relief was to not "do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table."
The Institute for the Study of War criticized the move in a report, stating: "Trump’s October 16 Executive Order does not support Trump’s stated foreign policy objectives of ending the war in Ukraine and will only enable Russia to continue financing and protracting the war in Ukraine without any proper incentives that may force Russia to engage in any meaningful peace negotiations."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern over the diplomatic and military developments. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, "the decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me."
Zelenskyy also told Bloomberg that "steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate." He added, "I am not saying that this is the goal our partners are pursuing. I don't want to think that our American partners believe the war" against Russia "could be ended sooner at Ukraine’s expense. But that’s how it looks."
Tensions have risen following a so-called "energy ceasefire" announced by Trump on Oct. 11. While Ukraine paused strikes on Russian energy infrastructure for three days, it resumed attacks last Thursday. Over the weekend, Ukraine launched a strike of over 1,000 drones into Russia, setting fires at an oil export terminal and refinery in St Petersburg, while Moscow pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles.
The proposed summit represents a significant shift in diplomatic efforts, potentially bypassing Ukraine in negotiations over its own sovereignty. The exclusion of Zelenskyy and the involvement of China as a host signal a complex geopolitical realignment. The simultaneous easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy exports and the continuation of military strikes highlight the fragile state of the conflict and the diverging interests of the major powers involved.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a military camp in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding 200 others, according to local authorities.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a Yemeni government military camp in Shabwa province with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 soldiers and wounding 200 recruits.