Putin proposes trilateral talks with Trump and Xi on Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources. The talks would exclude Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a move expected to alarm European nations. The Kremlin suggested the three leaders meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18-19. Putin first raised the idea during an Oct. 9 call with Trump, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed ongoing discussions, though no clear agenda has been set. A senior US official said Trump hasn't agreed but may be receptive. The proposal comes as Trump and Zelensky publicly clash, with Trump claiming Zelensky "doesn't want to end this war" and Zelensky criticizing Trump's sanctions waiver on Russia. Analysts say the meeting could boost China's diplomatic ambitions, though Chinese officials worry about European backlash and overshadowing APEC.