Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a three-way summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the November 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. The proposed talks exclude Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, drawing fierce condemnation from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who labeled Putin a war criminal and warned the meeting would encourage continued aggression. European officials and Ukrainian leadership have expressed grave concern over the proposal, which follows Trump waiving sanctions on Russian diesel exports.
Proposal for a trilateral summit
- ▪The Kremlin suggested holding the proposed meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2026.
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin first raised the summit proposal during an October 9, 2026 telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a trilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Official responses on summit status
- ▪Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions regarding a potential trilateral summit were raised, but stated no specific agreements or agenda had been finalized.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on October 19, 2026, that talks of a meeting had occurred, but nothing had been finalized.
Exclusion of Ukraine from the summit
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would exclude Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- ▪Reports of a proposed summit excluding Ukraine caused concern among European capitals and allies in Washington.
Ukrainian official criticism of the summit
- ▪Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal who should have no place at a summit with U.S. and Chinese leadership.
- ▪Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on October 19, 2026, that a Russia-China-U.S. summit would encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the war.
China's stance on the summit
- ▪Chinese officials expressed concern that a high-profile trilateral summit could overshadow China's hosting role at the APEC forum in Shenzhen.
- ▪Chinese President Xi Jinping is seeking to balance support for Russia with economic ties to Europe, where a trilateral summit could spark backlash.
Kremlin position on peace process
- ▪Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on October 19, 2026, that Russia appreciates ongoing U.S. mediation efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
- ▪Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that a final peace settlement for the war in Ukraine is impossible without the participation of representatives in Kyiv.
Proposed Putin-Zelenskyy meeting
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly declined proposals to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on neutral ground, insisting any direct meeting take place in Moscow.
- ▪The Ukrainian government rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand that any direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy take place in Moscow.
Trump's criticism of Zelenskyy
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social on October 18, 2026, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not want to end the war.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine needs a new president.
US easing of sanctions on Russian diesel
- ▪The October 9, 2026 agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump enabled Russian diesel sales to international and U.S. markets.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump defended easing Russian sanctions as part of his negotiation process to end the war and secure hostage releases.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump announced on October 16, 2026, a waiver on new sanctions against Russia and an agreement to purchase Russian diesel fuel.
U.S. pressure on Ukrainian refinery strikes
- ▪The Trump administration reportedly threatened to suspend intelligence-sharing and weapons deliveries to Ukraine unless Kyiv halted strikes on Russian oil refineries.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries, asserting that strikes on refineries harm global diesel markets.
Russian bombardment of Ukraine
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized partners for waiving sanctions against Russia while Russian bombardment damaged energy facilities across Ukraine.
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces launched 16 ballistic missiles and over 200 drones in an overnight attack, leaving at least 550,000 households without electricity.
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