Beijing is discussing the proposed November meeting with Moscow and Washington, while Kyiv and European leaders fear decisions on the Ukraine war could be made without their involvement
Beijing is holding discussions with Moscow and Washington over a possible trilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an upcoming summit in China, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
According to a Politico report, the proposed meeting could take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which China is hosting in Shenzhen on November 18-19.
All three leaders are expected to attend the gathering.
“China is in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state,” Politico quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning as telling reporters during a press briefing.
Mao did not provide details about the possible agenda or the issues the three leaders might discuss if the meeting goes ahead.
The prospect of such a meeting has raised concerns in Europe that discussions on ending the war in Ukraine could take place without the participation of Kyiv or European capitals.
Trump indicated last month that he was interested in discussing “denuclearisation” during a trilateral meeting, but “not so much” Ukraine. Beijing has not commented on the potential agenda.
More from WorldGerman President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, however, said Xi had rejected the idea of discussing Ukraine in such a format when the two leaders spoke last week.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described a trilateral meeting as “appropriate and very useful”, but did not offer details about what could be discussed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also voiced concern over the prospect of a meeting between the three leaders without Ukraine’s involvement.
“I really don’t want this to be a ‘Yalta – 2, 3, 4,’ when there is a redistribution of influence,” Zelenskyy told reporters in late October.
He was referring to the 1945 talks between the leaders of the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union, which focused on the future of postwar Germany.
European leaders have stressed that the continent must be involved in any discussions concerning a settlement to the war.
“Europe must and wants to play a role in this process,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday alongside Zelenskyy in Berlin.
“Key elements of a peaceful solution — whether regarding sanctions or the security architecture — can only be resolved with us Europeans. And everyone involved knows that very well.”
With inputs from agencies
