Trump Expects Three-Way Talks With Xi and Putin at China Summit Next Week

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Trump Confirms Trip to Shenzhen

Speaking to reporters on Sunday before flying from Florida back to Washington, Trump said he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Shenzhen, a technology hub in southern China. The summit runs from November 18 to 19.

He said one of the meetings would likely include both Putin and Xi, calling it "interesting." He added that the talks would cover many subjects, including denuclearization and efforts to end the war in Iran.

How the Idea Took Shape

The idea of a three-way meeting is not new. In September, the Kremlin said Putin and Trump had discussed the possibility of a trilateral summit with Xi on the sidelines of APEC, according to AFP. Last month, Trump said he was open to joining arms control talks with the two leaders.

Beijing has since acknowledged the discussions. At a press briefing in early November, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that talks about a possible meeting were under way, according to reports. No agreement has been announced.

If it happens, it would be the first time the three leaders sit down together. Trump and Xi last met on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC summit in South Korea.

Competing Agendas

The three leaders do not appear to want the same thing. Trump has framed the meeting around nuclear arms control. The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin wants to use a trilateral format to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

That raises a question critics have already asked: Ukraine itself would not be in the room. In a recent CBS "60 Minutes" interview, Trump said he believes a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is close and that it would leave Ukraine in a "little bit different shape." He gave no details.

On arms control, Beijing has so far resisted joining formal talks on limiting nuclear weapons. Whether Xi's government is willing to change course at its own summit is one of the key open questions.

The Iran War in the Background

Trump also listed the war in Iran among the topics. The conflict has dragged on for months, with ceasefires that collapsed and talks that repeatedly stalled. AP reporting in August noted that the war had weighed on Trump's poll numbers.

Oil prices and shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz remain sensitive issues. A diplomatic breakthrough with China and Russia, both of which have ties to Tehran, could be valuable for Washington.

What to Watch Next

Several things remain unclear: whether the trilateral meeting will be formally scheduled, what will be on the agenda, and whether Xi and Putin will commit to anything concrete. Trump's wording, that he "thinks" the meeting will happen, shows it is not yet settled.

The summit starts in just over a week. Further announcements from Washington, Moscow and Beijing are expected in the coming days.

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Sources

1. Reuters – "Trump thinks he will meet Xi and Putin at China APEC summit" (Nov 9, 2026): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-thinks-he-will-meet-xi-putin-china-apec-summit-2026-11-09/
2. AFP via Dhaka Tribune – "Putin, Trump discussed idea of trilateral summit with Xi" (Sept 2026): https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/europe/419455/putin-trump-discussed-idea-of-trilateral-summit
3. Latin Times – "China Confirms It's Negotiating a Never-Before-Seen Xi-Trump-Putin Summit" (Nov 7, 2026): https://www.latintimes.com/china-xi-trump-putin-summit-talks-601004
4. Philadelphia Inquirer / AP – "Trump claims active ceasefire talks, but Iran denies direct negotiations" (Aug 4, 2026): https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/trump-iran-ceasefire-talks-20260804.html

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