Putin proposes trilateral summit with Trump and Xi on Ukraine, excluding Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Ukraine, excluding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during an October 9 phone call, according to the Wall Street Journal. The proposal aims for a deal favorable to Moscow, raising concerns in Kyiv and European capitals about peace talks without Ukraine's leadership. The same call reportedly included an agreement on Russian diesel supplies to American and international markets. Trump defended his approach, saying he won't push Russia away from negotiations, and accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war. He also criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and suggested Ukraine missed better terms two years ago.