Russian President Vladimir Putin has floated the idea of a three-way summit with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The proposal came during a phone call between Putin and Trump on October 9, as detailed by a Russian intelligence officer briefed on the conversation.
That call led Trump to announce he would waive sanctions on Russia to purchase diesel, an effort to ease fuel prices amid rising tensions with Iran. The move, along with the White House's decision to pause sanctions on major importers of Russian energy, has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Reports that the administration has also slowed satellite services crucial to Ukraine's air defense have further inflamed allies who accuse Trump of tilting toward Moscow.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as the president's national security advisor, acknowledged on Monday that there have been “talks of a meeting,” when asked about the report during a diplomatic trip to Uzbekistan. “I think the President is open to anything that he can do to help bring the war to an end if it’s possible,” Rubio said, adding that nothing has been finalized. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions over a possible trilateral meeting are underway, per the Journal.
The White House and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ukrainian officials have reacted with alarm. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that any summit excluding President Volodymyr Zelensky is unacceptable and would only embolden Putin. “Inviting Putin to such a meeting would feed his appetite for self-aggrandizement and give him a stature he does not deserve. He is not a global leader; he is a war criminal. And Russia is not a global power; it is a global problem,” Sybiha said.
The proposed summit could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen, China. According to the Journal, such a gathering would elevate Xi as a mediator and signal a division of the world into spheres of influence among the three leaders. However, Chinese officials are weighing the risk that a high-profile trilateral meeting could overshadow Beijing's hosting of APEC and its regional diplomacy.
The development comes as GOP senators have escalated their criticism of Trump's Russia policy, with some challenging the administration's approach ahead of midterm elections. Senate Republicans are pressing for a tougher stance on Moscow, questioning whether the sanctions pause undermines U.S. leverage. Trump has defended the waiver, citing the need to pursue peace talks, but his explanations have done little to quell bipartisan unease.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a frequent Trump ally, has broken with the president on this issue, citing deep distrust of Putin. Graham's dissent highlights the growing rift within the GOP over how to handle Moscow. Meanwhile, public approval for Trump's handling of foreign policy has slipped, with his overall approval rating hitting a new low as midterm discontent grows.
If the trilateral summit materializes, it would mark a dramatic shift in global diplomacy, effectively sidelining Kyiv and European allies from the negotiating table. Critics argue that such a move would legitimize Putin's aggression and undermine the international order. Proponents, however, see it as a pragmatic step toward ending a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of casualties and global economic instability. The coming weeks will reveal whether this bold proposal gains traction or collapses under the weight of political opposition.
