Quick Answer: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Kremlin has confirmed discussions are underway, while a senior US official says Trump has not agreed yet but could be open to it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the four-year war in Ukraine — a summit that would favor Moscow's interests, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The three-way talks would take place without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a format the Journal calls unprecedented.
According to the report, which cites people familiar with the discussions, Putin floated the idea during an Oct. 9 phone call with Trump — the same conversation that produced a deal for the United States to buy Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its sale globally. The Kremlin has suggested holding the trilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese tech hub.
Kremlin Confirms Talks, Washington Holds Back
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to the Journal that discussions were taking place, though he stressed there was no agreement yet. "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 said.
A senior US official told the Journal that Trump had not agreed to the summit, though the president could be receptive given his desire to fulfill a campaign promise to settle the war. Trump had said it would be finished on "day one" of his new term, but he is now approaching nearly two years in office.
China's Role: A Seat at the Great-Power Table
Russian officials presented the idea to Beijing through diplomatic channels, and the Chinese side has indicated it would not object if Trump agreed to participate, people close to recent discussions between Moscow and Beijing told the Journal. "China wants to be seen as the pivot of the great powers, and potentially as a mediator between the US and Russia," said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank.
But Beijing is wary too. Chinese officials worry a geopolitical side show could overshadow their plans to use APEC as a showcase of China's role in the region, the Journal reported. The White House declined to comment, and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
A summit of the American, Russian and Chinese leaders deciding the fate of Ukraine — without Ukraine itself at the table — would mark a dramatic shift in how the war is handled. The plan represents an effort by Putin to capitalize on warming ties with Trump, ties that have alarmed Kyiv and Washington's European allies.
The backdrop is a reversal of Moscow's fortunes with Washington. Trump recently struck a diesel deal with Putin in a bid to lower fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections, and on Friday, Oct. 16, he halted implementation of sanctions that were to be imposed on Russia under a bipartisan bill he signed last month — a decision that drew criticism even from some of his allies (read our full story on why Trump waived the Russia sanctions).
Trump's relationship with Zelensky has also visibly cooled. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, following Ukraine's strike on an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of targeting Russian diesel refineries and said he "doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did," adding: "I WANT THIS WAR END!" (background: the St. Petersburg strike.)
The Journal also reports that Putin has proposed a trilateral summit to both Trump and Xi on previous occasions — and that he harbors ambitions for the format as a "second Yalta summit" dividing the globe into spheres of influence.
What Happens Next
The proposal is far from a done deal. Trump has not agreed, China has not formally accepted, and European capitals — deliberately excluded from the format — will push back against any settlement negotiated over Ukraine's head. Zelensky has warned that Washington siding with Moscow would be a historic mistake (read Zelensky's full warning). With the Shenzhen APEC summit about a month away, the coming weeks will show whether Putin's gambit becomes a real diplomatic event — or fades as another trial balloon.
Key Takeaways
- Putin proposed a trilateral summit with Trump and Xi for next month to discuss ending the Ukraine war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions are underway; a senior US official said Trump has not agreed but could be open to it.
- The Kremlin suggested holding the talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit on Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China.
- The format would exclude Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky — a point that has alarmed Kyiv and European allies.
- China has signaled it would not object if Trump participates, but worries about being drawn deeper into the conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did Putin propose?
Putin proposed that he, US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet next month to talk about Ukraine, in an attempt to negotiate an end to the four-year conflict on terms that would favor Moscow, according to people familiar with the discussions cited by the Wall Street Journal.
When and where would the Putin-Trump-Xi summit take place?
No date or venue has been agreed. The Kremlin has suggested holding the trilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which takes place on Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese tech hub. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed there is no agreement yet on the meeting or its agenda.
Has Trump agreed to the summit?
No. A senior US official told the Wall Street Journal that Trump had not agreed to such a summit, though the president could be receptive to the idea given his long-standing promise to settle the war. The White House declined to comment officially on the report.
Why is Ukraine not included in the proposed talks?
The proposal, as reported, involves only the leaders of Russia, the US and China — excluding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Journal describes such a summit without Ukraine as "unprecedented" and says it would send alarm bells ringing in European capitals. Zelensky has warned that the US siding with Russia would be a "historic mistake."
Why would China agree to host a trilateral Ukraine summit?
Analysts say Beijing sees a chance to elevate China's role as a diplomatic power broker — "the pivot of the great powers," as the Stimson Center's Yun Sun put it. However, Chinese officials also fear the talks could overshadow their APEC showcase and drag Beijing deeper into the Ukraine conflict, angering European partners.
What are the biggest obstacles to the summit happening?
Trump has not committed, China has not formally accepted, and Europe — deliberately excluded from the format — is expected to resist any settlement negotiated over Ukraine's head. With the APEC summit about a month away and US-led peace efforts stalled, the proposal could easily remain a trial balloon.
Sources
- The Wall Street Journal — "Putin Floats a Summit With Trump and Xi to Discuss Ukraine Deal" (Oct. 18, 2026): wsj.com
- Reuters (via The Hindu BusinessLine) — "Putin proposes summit with Trump, Xi to end Ukraine war, WSJ reports" (Oct. 19, 2026): thehindubusinessline.com
By GlobalDeskNews Staff | This article is based on reporting by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, published Oct. 19, 2026. All figures, names and dates are quoted verbatim from the sources cited above.