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Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The meeting could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, China. However, no final decision has been made on the proposed talks.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the newspaper reported that Putin was seeking a settlement aligned with Russia’s interests.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said discussions about a possible meeting were underway, but the agenda had not yet been determined.
A senior US official said Trump had not agreed to the proposal, although he might be receptive to the initiative.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Russia and Ukraine to focus on ending the conflict.
Speaking during a visit to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio said Trump wanted to bring the war to an end but added that he was unsure whether the proposed trilateral summit had been finalised.
Rubio warned that the conflict could have far-reaching consequences and risk expanding beyond the two countries. Even an accidental drone incursion into a neighbouring country’s territory, he said, could further escalate tensions.
Trump has defended his decision to ease some sanctions against Russia, arguing that the move was intended to keep Moscow engaged in negotiations.
He also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being unwilling to end the war. Zelensky, however, has warned that easing sanctions could disadvantage Ukraine and strengthen Russia’s ability to continue fighting.
Amid diplomatic efforts, a fresh Russian airstrike on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killed a woman and damaged a subway station and a 25-storey residential building, according to the report.
Russia and Ukraine have also continued attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, Reuters reported.
Despite ongoing diplomatic discussions, the prospects for a trilateral summit remain uncertain. Any meeting would depend on agreement among the three leaders and the finalisation of an agenda, with the outcome of potential negotiations still unclear.
