Trump expects talks with Putin and Xi at APEC summit in Shenzhen

Trump's expectation

On Sunday, 8 November, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, southern China. He said he will travel to China for the summit, which is set for 18 and 19 November. Trump said one of the meetings would probably include both leaders and that it would be interesting. Speaking on his flight from Florida back to Washington, he said the talks would cover many subjects, including nuclear disarmament. He also said the aim is to end the war in Iran.

Why the talks are being considered

The war began on 28 February 2026, when Israeli and American strikes hit Iran. The conflict led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas trade, and pushed oil prices higher. On 21 October the Kremlin said preparations for a trilateral meeting were under way, which would be the first of its kind between the three countries. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Putin wants such a meeting to discuss ending the war in Ukraine on terms favourable to Moscow. Trump had already shown openness in October to trilateral arms control talks with Xi and Putin.

Xi's caution and diverging priorities

An analysis from Courrier international says the idea came from Russia, which hopes for a Yalta-style arrangement on Ukraine, a reference to the 1945 conference that shaped postwar Europe. Even a modest outcome would raise Moscow's standing to the level of Washington and Beijing and could widen the gap between the White House and Europe, the analysis argues. Xi is described as far more cautious than Trump and Putin about the format of the meeting. According to the same piece, Trump has said the meeting should focus on nuclear disarmament rather than Ukraine.

Economic stakes

The Courrier international analysis links the planned meeting to Trump's interest in lucrative economic deals. The United States recently eased sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and a first shipment of 40,000 tonnes was reportedly heading to North America. Moscow has also proposed increasing its fertiliser exports during a shortage caused by the crisis in the Middle East. The analysis presents these developments as background to the summit agenda.

Dates and open questions

Reports differ on the dates. Most give 18 and 19 November for the Shenzhen summit, while Courrier international gives 17 and 18 November. The Kremlin has only said the trilateral meeting is being prepared, and none of the articles confirm that Xi has agreed to take part in a three-way meeting. Trump's own wording is hedged, as he said he believes one of the meetings will involve both Putin and Xi. Whether a formal three-way meeting takes place at the summit or only on its margins remains to be seen.