In an unprecedented diplomatic development, the White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping will convene for a joint meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, late next week.
A Historic First
The trilateral encounter, announced by White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales, marks the first time the leaders of the United States, Russia, and China will meet together. The summit, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, will bring together the 21 member economies of APEC, but all eyes will be on this extraordinary gathering of the world's most powerful leaders.
According to Wales, President Trump intends to address the reduction of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that their proliferation is a grave danger. "The president has made it clear that, among other topics, he will discuss the reduction of nuclear weapons in the world, whose proliferation President Trump believes is very dangerous," she stated.
While Iran may also feature in the discussions, Ukraine is not expected to be on the agenda. Neither Moscow nor Beijing has commented on the planned meeting.
No Agreements Expected
A senior American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that no formal agreements are anticipated from the talks. The meeting is seen as an opportunity for dialogue rather than negotiation.
President Trump is set to arrive in Shenzhen on Wednesday evening. During the summit, he will also hold bilateral talks with President Xi on Thursday, marking their fourth meeting since Trump returned to office in 2025. The two leaders have maintained a frequent dialogue, with Xi hosting both Putin and Trump in Beijing earlier this year, and Trump welcoming Xi to Washington in September.
Broader Regional Tour
The president's trip will also include attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Philippines on Tuesday. According to Wales, the visit aims to "secure historic wins to the American people and advance America's interests in the Indo Pacific."
Chinese state media reported on Friday that President Xi would participate in bilateral talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit, but did not mention the trilateral meeting. Earlier this month, Russian state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying there were "signals confirming readiness" for such talks.
As the world watches, this meeting could signal a new era of great power diplomacy, with the potential to reshape global security and economic dynamics.
