No breakthrough expected for Ukraine at Xi-Trump summit, expert says

Ukrainian Sinologist Vita Holod said in a Radio NV interview that there are no preconditions for a breakthrough for Ukraine during the Xi Jinping-Donald Trump meeting. She noted that if Chinese leader Xi wanted to pressure Russia's Vladimir Putin to end the war, he would have done so already. Holod suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may ask Trump to discuss with Xi pressuring Putin, but cited Chinese experts' publications indicating Ukraine is not a priority on the meeting agenda, appearing near the end alongside other regional crises. She expressed hope Ukraine will be mentioned in the summit readout but sees no basis for expecting a breakthrough. On September 23, Zelensky said he urged Trump to encourage Xi to address Putin about ending the war. Xi is making a state visit to the US from September 23-25, with the main ceremony and talks scheduled for September 24 at the White House, followed by a state banquet. Their previous meeting was in Beijing in May 2026.