Putin proposes trilateral talks with Trump and Xi to end Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine on Moscow's terms, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing a former Russian intelligence officer. Putin raised the idea during a phone call with Trump on October 9, suggesting talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18–19. A senior U.S. official confirmed the proposal, noting Trump has not yet agreed but may support it to fulfill his campaign promise. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the summit is under discussion, while Beijing has not objected. The initiative follows a favorable shift in U.S.-Russia relations, including an October 9 deal for U.S. purchases of Russian diesel fuel. Trump recently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not seeking peace, saying Ukraine's position has worsened since two years ago.