U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, 7 November, that Russia and Ukraine want to reach a settlement, as China explores the possibility of hosting a meeting between Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The comments, reported by Reuters, follow Beijing's confirmation earlier this week that it is communicating with relevant parties about a potential trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen later this month.
The diplomatic developments have raised questions about whether China could play a greater role in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The proposed summit has yet to be confirmed, with its agenda and potential implications for Ukraine still unclear.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed on 4 November that Beijing was discussing the possibility of bringing together the leaders of China, the U.S. and Russia.
“China is in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state,” Mao said during a regular press briefing.
The proposed meeting could take place during the APEC summit in Shenzhen, although Beijing has not announced a final agreement on its timing, format or agenda.
A meeting involving Xi, Trump and Putin would bring together three major powers at a time of continuing tensions over Ukraine, global security and international trade.
The discussions also come amid renewed U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump met Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House on 5 November and subsequently suggested that a broader agreement involving Ukraine and European security could be approaching.
However, substantial differences remain over the terms of any settlement, including territorial issues and security guarantees.
China has maintained diplomatic and economic relations with Russia throughout the war while publicly calling for a political settlement.
Beijing has repeatedly presented dialogue and negotiations as the preferred means of ending the conflict, although its approach has faced criticism from Western governments over its close relationship with Moscow.
The possibility of a meeting involving Xi, Trump and Putin introduces another diplomatic channel through which the war could be discussed.
China's relationship with Russia could give Beijing a role in facilitating communication, while its economic influence and position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council make it an important participant in broader international security discussions.
The talks also appear to involve competing diplomatic priorities.
Russia has expressed interest in addressing Ukraine, while Trump has indicated that nuclear arms control is among the issues he would like to discuss with the other leaders.
Whether Ukraine would feature prominently in the meeting remains uncertain.
The possibility of a three-way meeting has raised concerns in Ukraine about major powers discussing the country's future without its participation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned against diplomatic arrangements that could determine geopolitical outcomes without involving the countries directly affected.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has also criticised the proposed format, reflecting Kyiv's longstanding position that negotiations concerning Ukraine must include Ukrainian representatives.
The issue is particularly sensitive as Kyiv continues to seek binding security guarantees from Western allies to prevent another Russian attack following any settlement.
Ukraine has maintained that a sustainable peace must protect its sovereignty and provide credible mechanisms to deter renewed hostilities.
Any diplomatic initiative involving Washington, Moscow and Beijing would therefore face questions about how Ukrainian interests would be represented.
A potential meeting between the three leaders could provide an opportunity to discuss broader international security issues, including nuclear arms control and the war in Ukraine.
For Washington, it could offer another channel for engaging Moscow while maintaining dialogue with Beijing.
For Russia, the meeting could provide an opportunity to present its position directly to the U.S. and Chinese presidents.
For China, participation would place Beijing at the centre of high-level discussions involving two other major powers, potentially increasing its diplomatic visibility.
However, the existence of preliminary contacts does not mean the leaders have agreed to negotiate a Ukraine settlement together.
Nor has Beijing confirmed that it intends to act as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, 7 November, that Russia and Ukraine want to reach a settlement, as China explores the possibility of ...
India's delivery of guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia is drawing renewed attention as analysts assess the mi...
EU regulators have accused TikTok of breaching the bloc’s online safety rules, warning that its addictive recommendation algorithm could harm...
Democrats' sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections has sent technology stocks plunging, as investors fear tougher AI regulations could slow infrastructure development and threaten the boom that has driven market gains this year.
Romanian authorities said late on Thursday that two additional planes had received bomb threats including a KLM flight to Tel Aviv that had a layover in Bucharest.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 turned to the Democrats because of foreign policy and economic concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to fight attempts to impeach him, dismissing the growing campaign against him as politically motivated amid mounting criticism of his handling of the war in Iran.
EU regulators have accused TikTok of breaching the bloc’s online safety rules, warning that its addictive recommendation algorithm could harm users’ mental health, particularly children and teenagers.
Millions displaced by Sudan's civil war risk losing access to emergency shelter as funding shortages leave aid warehouses empty, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on Friday.
A Kenyan court has sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison over the deaths of 190 children in one of the country's worst cult-related tragedies.
Abu Dhabi’s ADIPEC 2026 has closed after four days, with a record $67 billion in deals, 240,000 attendees and its largest exhibition yet, highlighting the global energy industry’s focus on security, investment and artificial intelligence.
A fresh wave of bomb threats targeted passenger flights across Europe on Friday, 6 November, marking the third such incident in a week and raising fears of a coordinated campaign of “hybrid aggression and a form of psychological warfare.”
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment