Beijing said on Wednesday it is in discussions with Moscow and Washington to prepare for a potential meeting between President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the APEC summit in Shenzhen, a prospect that has drawn concern from Zelenskyy and fears in Europe that Ukraine talks could take place without Kyiv or European capitals at the table.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that Beijing is in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state during the Nov. 18-19 summit. She did not elaborate on an agenda.
The APEC summit, hosted by China this year, is expected to draw all three leaders, providing a rare opportunity for direct dialogue at a time of severely strained relations between the US and Russia over the war in Ukraine, and wide-ranging strategic competition between the US and China.
Donald Trump last month indicated interest in discussing denuclearisation in a trilateral meeting, but said not so much Ukraine. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Xi rejected the idea of discussing Ukraine in that format when the two leaders spoke last week. China has not commented on the meeting's agenda.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described such a meeting as appropriate and very useful, without elaborating on a potential agenda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern over the potential talks. He told reporters in late October that he did not want it to become a Yalta 2, 3 or 4, involving a redistribution of influence. The reference was to the 1945 talks between US, British and Soviet leaders to discuss the future of postwar Germany.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, standing alongside Zelenskyy in Berlin on Tuesday, insisted that Europe must play a role in the process. He argued that key elements of a peaceful solution, whether regarding sanctions or the security architecture, can only be resolved with Europeans, and that everyone involved knows that very well.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A trilateral summit of the US, China, and Russia would be the highest-level meeting between the three nuclear powers in years, carrying the potential to reshape global diplomacy on Ukraine, arms control, and the Indo-Pacific.
- The exclusion of Kyiv and European capitals from discussions about European security is a major point of contention, drawing explicit warnings from Zelenskyy and Merz.
- The outcome of the Shenzhen talks could define the future security architecture of Europe and the parameters of great-power competition.
Background
Relations between the US and Russia have been severed by the war in Ukraine, while the US-China relationship is defined by strategic competition over trade, technology, and Taiwan. China has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the conflict, while maintaining a close strategic partnership with Russia. The APEC summit in Shenzhen offers a rare diplomatic venue for high-level talks. The reference to Yalta underscores fears of a repeat of the 1945 conference where Allied powers divided spheres of influence without the consent of smaller nations.
Key Perspectives
China: Beijing is facilitating the talks, stating it is in communication with relevant parties. It has not specified an agenda and, according to Steinmeier, rejected including Ukraine as a topic in this format.
Donald Trump: The US President has signalled interest in a meeting focused on denuclearisation, while downplaying Ukraine as a topic for the trilateral discussion.
Vladimir Putin / Dmitry Peskov: Russia views a potential meeting as appropriate and very useful, without specifying a preferred agenda.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Ukraine: Warns against a repeat of the Yalta conference, where great powers divided influence without smaller nations' input.
Friedrich Merz / Germany: Demands that Europe be at the table, arguing that sanctions and security architecture for a peaceful solution cannot be resolved without European involvement.
What to Watch
- Whether a formal meeting is officially announced and what specific agenda is agreed upon by all three parties.
- The reaction of European allies and Ukraine if the talks proceed without direct European participation or solely focus on denuclearisation.
- The potential for the summit to either ease tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan or deepen divisions.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
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- SupportedChina said talks were under way about a potential Xi-Trump-Putin meeting during the Shenzhen APEC summit.Politico Europe: “Beijing is in discussions with Moscow and Washington to prepare a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. and Russian counterparts Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday. The trilateral meeting would take place during the APEC summit hosted by China in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19”
- SupportedThe summit is scheduled for Nov. 18-19.Politico Europe: “The trilateral meeting would take place during the APEC summit hosted by China in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19”
- SupportedThe three leaders are expected to attend the summit.Politico Europe: “which the three leaders are expected to attend.”
- SupportedThe potential meeting has drawn concern from Zelenskyy and fears in Europe that Ukraine talks could take place without Kyiv or European capitals at the table.Politico Europe: “Mao did not elaborate on which topics the leaders would cover if they convene, amid fears in Europe that talks on ending the war in Ukraine could take place without Kyiv or European capitals at the table . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern over a potential trilateral meeting”
- Partly supportedThe summit would provide a rare opportunity for direct dialogue between the three leaders.Politico Europe: “The trilateral meeting would take place during the APEC summit hosted by China in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19, which the three leaders are expected to attend.”
- Not in the sourcesUS-Russia relations are severely strained over the war in Ukraine.Politico Europe: “amid fears in Europe that talks on ending the war in Ukraine could take place without Kyiv or European capitals at the table”
- Not in the sourcesThe US and China are engaged in wide-ranging strategic competition.
- SupportedTrump indicated interest last month in discussing denuclearisation at a trilateral meeting, but not so much Ukraine.Politico Europe: “Trump last month indicated interest in discussing “denuclearization” in a trilateral meeting, but “not so much” Ukraine.”
- SupportedSteinmeier said Xi rejected discussing Ukraine in that format when they spoke last week.Politico Europe: “German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Xi rejected the idea of discussing Ukraine in that format when both leaders spoke last week.”
- SupportedPeskov described a meeting as appropriate and very useful, without elaborating on a potential agenda.Politico Europe: “Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that such a meeting would be “appropriate and very useful,” but did not elaborate on a potential agenda.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said in late October that he did not want the meeting to become a Yalta 2, 3 or 4 involving a redistribution of influence.Politico Europe: ““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”
- SupportedMerz said Tuesday in Berlin alongside Zelenskyy that Europe must play a role in the process, and that key elements of a peaceful solution can only be resolved with Europeans.Politico Europe: ““Europe must and wants to play a role in this process,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said 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.”