US President Donald Trump has said he is open to meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine war, even if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not present. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was prepared to do whatever could help bring the conflict to an end. He also indicated that discussions with Putin and Xi could include nuclear weapons and denuclearisation, with the possibility of broader talks during his planned visit to China next month.
The remarks come after Putin reportedly proposed a trilateral meeting involving Trump and Xi during a phone conversation on October 9. The proposed summit could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged that discussions about such a meeting have taken place, while the Kremlin has indicated that the proposal remains under consideration and that no final agreement has been reached.
Trump also criticised Zelensky's handling of the conflict and said he believed it might be time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. His comments reflect the growing tension between Washington and Kyiv as the US administration seeks renewed diplomatic engagement with Moscow. Trump has recently defended an arrangement involving Russian diesel supplies and has eased some economic pressure on Russia, moves that have drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials.
The possibility of negotiations without direct Ukrainian participation has already raised concerns in Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has argued that a trilateral meeting involving the US, Russia and China without Ukraine would not provide a clear path toward ending the conflict. European officials have also stressed that Europe and Ukraine would need to have a role in any eventual settlement. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has continued to signal interest in exploring diplomatic options while the war remains ongoing.
The proposed Trump-Putin-Xi meeting could therefore become an important diplomatic development if it moves forward. However, the format, agenda and participation have not yet been finalised. Any future negotiations would have to address the positions of Russia, Ukraine, the United States and European countries, as well as broader issues involving security guarantees, territorial disputes and the future of regional stability.