US President Donald Trump wants to hold a three-way summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next month. The proposed meeting would focus on nuclear disarmament rather than making an end to the war in Ukraine its main goal.
Such a meeting would bring the leaders of the United States, China and Russia together for a joint summit. It would be an unusual diplomatic event involving three of the world’s major nuclear powers.
Trump has spoken for about two years about reaching an agreement with Moscow and Beijing to reduce their nuclear weapons stockpiles. However, neither Putin nor Xi has shown strong public support for the proposal so far.
Trump is expected to travel to China in mid-November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen. The planned visit could provide an opportunity for talks with Xi and potentially a meeting involving Putin.
The Kremlin has raised the idea of a trilateral summit since July. Putin has discussed it with Trump during two phone calls, including one last week, according to the information provided about the proposal.
China, however, has not indicated that it is ready to host such a meeting. The proposal therefore remains uncertain, with no confirmed agreement from all three governments.
Speaking on Monday, Trump said he would be interested in holding a meeting with Xi and Putin, but he made clear that Ukraine would not be its main focus.
“I would do it, not so much for Ukraine, we would have it to talk about denuclearization,” Trump said when asked whether the summit could address the war.
His comments suggest that nuclear arms control would be the central subject of the proposed talks. The leaders could discuss ways to reduce nuclear risks, although no specific agreement or negotiating plan has been announced.
The idea comes as the United States seeks to engage both Russia and China on nuclear weapons. Washington has long viewed the size and development of the two countries’ arsenals as important issues for international security.
A possible agreement would face major challenges. Russia and China have not publicly embraced Trump’s proposal, and the three governments have different security priorities. Any progress would depend on whether they could agree on the scope of negotiations and the limits they might accept.
The absence of a clear commitment from Beijing is another obstacle. While Trump is expected to attend the APEC meeting in Shenzhen, that visit does not guarantee that Xi will agree to a separate summit with Putin.
The Kremlin’s repeated interest in a trilateral meeting shows that Moscow is willing to discuss the idea with Washington. However, the details of any possible gathering, including its timing and agenda, remain unsettled.
Trump’s remarks also indicate that he sees nuclear disarmament as a separate issue from the conflict in Ukraine. The war could still feature in broader discussions between the leaders, but Trump said it would not be the main reason for the proposed three-way meeting.
The conflict has been a major point of tension between Russia and Western governments. Bringing Putin together with Trump and Xi could create an opportunity for direct discussions, but there is no confirmation that Ukraine would be included in the formal agenda.
Nuclear disarmament is a complex process that can involve limits on weapons, verification measures and agreements on how each side reports its arsenal. Any effort involving the United States, Russia and China would require detailed negotiations and sustained cooperation.
For now, Trump’s proposal remains an ambition rather than a confirmed diplomatic event. Russia has raised the idea, but China has yet to signal its willingness to take part.
The coming weeks may clarify whether the three governments are prepared to pursue the plan. If the summit goes ahead, nuclear weapons would be the stated focus, while the future of the Ukraine war would remain a separate and unresolved issue.
