Putin proposes trilateral talks with Trump and Xi on Ukraine, excluding Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the November APEC summit in Shenzhen to discuss ending the Ukraine war, potentially excluding Ukraine and the EU from negotiations. The proposal aims to boost Russia's global status and strengthen its negotiating position, with Moscow demanding Ukrainian territorial concessions and security restrictions. China would likely participate as a symbolic partner rather than an active mediator, seeking diplomatic influence without responsibility for the outcome. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists any negotiations about his country's future must include Kyiv, while European leaders warn that excluding Ukraine would undermine the legitimacy of any settlement. The meeting format has drawn comparisons to the 1945 Yalta Conference.