Trump, Xi and Putin may meet at APEC 2026 summit in Shenzhen

US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold an unprecedented trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC 2026 summit in Shenzhen, though disagreements over format, Ukraine, nuclear arms control, and trade may derail the plan. Trump said he expects to meet both leaders, while Moscow confirmed work is underway, and Beijing acknowledged talks. A dispute persists over the meeting's format, with China demanding pre-written statements and the US seeking open debate, potentially leading to separate bilateral meetings instead. Putin proposed the meeting in an October 9 call with Trump, focusing on Ukraine. Xi prioritizes stability and status, while Trump seeks nuclear arms control and trade discussions. Ukraine opposes the format, and China has declined trilateral nuclear disarmament talks, citing its smaller arsenal.