MOSCOW – Preparations for a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump at next month’s APEC summit have begun, a Kremlin aide said Sunday, as a senior Russian diplomat described the proposed talks as a potentially important element of the gathering.
Marat Berdyev, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large for G20 and APEC, welcomed the prospect in a Telegram statement, according to a report published Sunday.
“Trilateral talks between the leaders of Russia, China, and the United States could become an important element of the APEC leaders’ meeting,” Berdyev wrote.
The summit is scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, according to APEC’s official calendar. Earlier Russian statements about Putin’s APEC plans had left a meeting involving Trump conditional.
In an October 23 social post, broadcaster Liu Xin described Shenzhen’s forthcoming role as host. The post concerns the wider APEC gathering, not confirmation of three-way presidential talks.
https://x.com/LiuXininBeijing/status/2113570411174920319
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said Sunday that Moscow, Beijing and Washington were ready in principle to hold the encounter. Anadolu Agency reported his comments in its account of the interview, carried by A News.
“I can say for certain now that Moscow, Beijing and Washington are in principle ready to hold it, and preparations have already begun,” Ushakov said in an interview with Russian broadcaster VGTRK.
His account describes planning for the proposed meeting, rather than a joint announcement by the three governments. It does not establish an agreed agenda for the presidents.
A separate Putin-Trump meeting has not been arranged. Ushakov said Russia and the United States had so far focused their discussions on the three-way format, although bilateral contact remained possible. TASS quoted him drawing that distinction.
“We haven’t agreed on this meeting yet because, up until now, the discussion has focused on this trilateral contact,” he said. He added that large international gatherings give leaders opportunities to greet one another and speak informally.
The proposed format would bring Washington into a discussion involving the two leaders at the centre of the Russia-China partnership. The presence of all three leaders at one gathering would provide an opportunity for talks, but would not itself settle their format or subject.
An October video report, “Shenzhen gears up for APEC 2026 with 30 days to go,” covers the host city’s preparations. It is background footage, not a recording of the proposed presidential meeting.
On October 21, Anadolu reported that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning had no information about the proposed trilateral meeting. She reiterated Beijing’s support for negotiations toward a political settlement of the Ukraine conflict. Her statement preceded Ushakov’s Sunday account.
The same October 21 report said Trump had expressed openness to meeting Putin and Xi, while identifying nuclear disarmament rather than Ukraine as his principal focus.
The question of a three-way encounter therefore extends beyond Trump’s engagement with Xi or the prospect of another Putin-Trump conversation. The three governments would also have to agree on what they intended to discuss together.
APEC brings together 21 member economies for economic cooperation, trade and regional dialogue. Its November leaders’ meeting provides the setting for possible diplomatic encounters, not confirmation of a separate negotiation on nuclear arms or Ukraine peace talks. Ushakov’s announcement leaves the proposed meeting’s agenda and final arrangements unresolved.
