Putin proposes trilateral summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Moscow, according to The Wall Street Journal. The proposal was made during an October 9 phone call with Trump, which also included a deal for US purchases of Russian diesel fuel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed talks are underway, though no clear agreement exists yet. A senior US official said Trump has not consented but may view the idea favorably given his campaign promise to resolve the conflict. The Kremlin suggested holding the dialogue on the sidelines of the November 18-19 APEC summit in Shenzhen, China. Moscow sees the format as a way to cement Russia's status among major world powers and exclude Europe, which it views as an obstacle. Chinese officials have signaled openness but worry about risks, including being drawn deeper into the conflict and backlash from European capitals.