Putin proposes trilateral talks with Trump and Xi on Ukraine war in China

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month in China to discuss the Ukraine war, seeking a settlement favorable to Moscow as Washington-Kremlin ties warm. The proposed summit could occur alongside the APEC gathering on November 18-19 in Shenzhen, though Trump has not agreed, a senior US official said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions but noted no clear agenda or confirmation. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders would be excluded, raising concerns. Putin floated the idea during an October 9 call with Trump, which also involved US purchases of Russian diesel fuel. Trump has paused sanctions implementation and expressed frustration with Zelensky over strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. A China-hosted meeting would boost Beijing's diplomatic role but could complicate its European relations.