Kremlin says Putin-Trump-Xi talks at APEC in China are being prepared
In short
The Kremlin said on 21 October that a three-way meeting of the Russian, US and Chinese leaders is being prepared on the sidelines of next month's APEC summit in China. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said China is doing the preparatory work, but that one such meeting could not resolve the Ukraine crisis. The announcement followed about three hours of talks between Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
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The Kremlin said on 21 October (local time) that a three-way meeting of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders is being prepared on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China next month. Citing Russian state news agency TASS, Yonhap reported that Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the Chinese side is carrying out the preparatory work. He said the aim is to include a trilateral meeting during APEC, but that one such meeting could not resolve the Ukraine crisis. [ 1 , 4 ]
Chosun Ilbo, citing the Financial Times, Bloomberg and TASS, said Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff met for about three hours in St Petersburg, on Witkoff's ninth visit to Russia. It gave the APEC dates as 18-19 November in Shenzhen. It quoted Ushakov as saying that none of Moscow, Washington or Beijing is rejecting the idea. [ 3 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that Trump said on 19 October he would take part only if the agenda were limited to denuclearisation, and that Russia and China are reported to want to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Chosun Ilbo likewise said Trump indicated he would focus on controlling China's growing nuclear arsenal rather than on ending the war. [ 3 , 4 ]
Ushakov said the Putin-Witkoff talks gave a significant place to carrying out the diesel deal. Under it, a tanker with 40,000 tonnes of Russian diesel is to sail to the United States, which Yonhap dated as 22 October. Witkoff thanked Putin for the deal, and Putin said Russia could supply more fertiliser to the US. Witkoff said energy and AI data centre projects are under discussion, and Ushakov said some projects are close to being realised. Chosun Ilbo said Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel this month and that Putin credited the step with a 5-6% fall in international prices. [ 1 , 3 ]
On Ukraine, the Kremlin said the peace proposal Witkoff delivered lacks substance, which Yonhap described as in effect a rejection. It said it is nonetheless ready in principle to resume US-mediated trilateral peace talks in mid-November, possibly in Abu Dhabi. Hankook Ilbo reported that Ushakov said a US-Russia-Ukraine meeting on 10 November was also discussed. Ahead of the talks, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen held on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Yonhap reported that Ukrainian regional authorities said four civilians were killed overnight in Russian attacks, and that Ukraine says US intelligence and air-defence support has been disrupted. Chosun Ilbo said Zelensky told Fox News he is ready to accept a ceasefire along the current front line. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Chosun Ilbo expects European security and the structure of peace negotiations to be shaken as the US restores economic and diplomatic cooperation with Russia while pressing Ukraine. The documents show differing aims for a three-way meeting: Trump reportedly wants the agenda limited to denuclearisation, while Russia and China reportedly want to discuss ending the war. The headline of Yonhap's Washington report points to growing concern in the United States.
Key facts
- The Kremlin said on 21 October (local time) that a three-way summit of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders is being prepared during next month's APEC summit in China. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the Chinese side is carrying out preparatory work and that the aim is to include a trilateral meeting during APEC. [ 1 ]
- Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff met for about three hours in St Petersburg on 21 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo gave the APEC summit dates as 18-19 November in Shenzhen. [ 3 ]
- A tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes of Russian diesel is due to leave for the United States under the diesel deal, with Yonhap citing 22 October as the departure date. [ 1 ]
- Russia released US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been held on charges of working as a mercenary for Ukraine. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Kremlin said the US peace proposal lacks substance, but that it is ready in principle to resume US-mediated trilateral peace talks in mid-November. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Kremlin stated that a trilateral meeting of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders is being prepared around the APEC summit in China next month. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Putin and Witkoff held about three hours of talks on 21 October in St Petersburg. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen held over alleged mercenary activity for Ukraine. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Kremlin described the US peace proposal as lacking substance but said it is ready in principle to resume trilateral peace talks in mid-November, with Abu Dhabi a possible venue. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the three-way summit will actually take place. The Kremlin says preparations are under way, and Ushakov said none of Moscow, Washington or Beijing rejects the idea (Chosun Ilbo); the documents do not report a confirmation from the US or Chinese side.
- The agenda of any three-way meeting. Hankook Ilbo reports Trump said on 19 October he would attend only if the agenda were limited to denuclearisation, while Russia and China are reported to want to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
- The date of the resumed US-Russia-Ukraine talks. Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo say mid-November, while Hankook Ilbo says Ushakov said a meeting on 10 November was discussed.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap published its report on the Kremlin saying a trilateral meeting at APEC is being prepared. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap published a Washington report on Putin pushing for US-China-Russia talks and growing concern in the US. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo published its report on the plan and the Putin-Witkoff meeting. [ 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo published its report on the Kremlin's statement. [ 4 ]