Putin Proposes Summit With Trump and Xi to Discuss Ukraine War, Report Says

October 19, 2026

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war on terms favourable to Moscow, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Putin reportedly raised the proposal during a telephone conversation with Trump on October 9. However, the proposed meeting has not been finalised, and the US president has not formally agreed to attend, according to reports.

The Kremlin has indicated that discussions about a possible summit are taking place, while Chinese officials have reportedly shown willingness to participate if Trump agrees. The proposal comes amid efforts by Moscow and Washington to improve bilateral relations, a development that has raised concerns in Kyiv.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told The Wall Street Journal that there was no clear understanding of the meeting or its possible agenda. He said all three sides acknowledged the hypothetical possibility of holding such a gathering.

Putin-Trump-Xi Summit Could Take Place During APEC Meeting

According to reports, the proposed summit could be held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China.

The reported plan would bring together the leaders of Russia, the United States and China to discuss the conflict without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the table. The prospect of discussing Ukraine’s future without direct Ukrainian participation could raise diplomatic concerns in Kyiv and among European allies.

The proposal also follows a recent agreement involving Russian diesel supplies to the United States. During their October 9 conversation, Putin and Trump reportedly discussed a deal under which Washington would purchase Russian diesel and facilitate its sale on international markets.

The possible summit remains at the proposal stage, with no confirmed date, agenda or agreement on participation.

Trump Says Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations Making Progress

Meanwhile, Trump has continued to defend his efforts to negotiate an end to the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the negotiations were making “great progress”. He also criticised Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that such strikes could contribute to higher global crude prices and risk pushing Moscow away from negotiations.

“My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table,” Trump wrote.

He also accused Zelenskyy of being unwilling to end the conflict and criticised the financial assistance provided to Ukraine by Europe and former US President Joe Biden.

Trump said Ukraine had suffered extensive territorial losses and casualties, adding: “I WANT THIS WAR END!”

Ukraine War Settlement Remains Uncertain

Trump has made ending the Russia-Ukraine war a major diplomatic priority since returning to the White House in January 2025. However, the prospect of a settlement remains uncertain, with disagreements over the terms of a potential agreement and the future of territories occupied by Russia continuing to complicate efforts.

Putin’s reported proposal for a meeting with Trump and Xi could open another diplomatic channel, but it remains unclear whether the three leaders will meet or whether such talks would produce concrete progress towards ending the conflict.

For now, the proposed summit remains unconfirmed, while the war and the diplomatic differences surrounding its resolution continue.