Peskov, Rubio and Trump discuss possible Putin-Trump-Xi meeting at APEC in Shenzhen

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told The Wall Street Journal that Russia, the US and China recognise the hypothetical possibility of a three-way meeting. "There is as yet no clear understanding of the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three sides recognise the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting," he said. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]

Kommersant, citing the Journal, wrote that the Russian side wants to use the meeting to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine. One of the paper's sources said Putin raised the idea on 9 October. The sources said Trump had not given his consent but might be receptive, that Russia passed the proposal to Beijing through diplomatic channels, and that China indicated it would not object if Trump agrees to take part. The Kremlin proposed holding the meeting at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November. [ 3 ]

At a briefing the same day, Peskov said that, since all three leaders may potentially attend the summit in China, the topic of such a hypothetical meeting had indeed been mentioned, including in contacts between Putin and Trump. He said no substantive proposals were made. RBC reported that he said no substantive agreements were discussed or voiced by anyone. [ 14 , 15 ]

Russian outlets reported that Rubio said the possibility of a meeting of the US, Russian and Chinese leaders at the APEC summit is being discussed. RBC wrote that the US secretary of state confirmed that the White House is discussing it. [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]

Late on 19 October Trump said: "If President Xi wants to hold such a meeting, I am ready." According to Meduza, he said the meeting would be held to discuss nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament, not so much Ukraine. Interfax reported that he said a three-way meeting is not on his schedule but he would like to organise talks in this format. Kommersant wrote that he denies that any agreement has been reached. [ 19 , 23 , 24 ]

On 20 October Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told journalists in Dushanbe that there is not yet a final agreement that the meeting will take place. Izvestia quoted him as saying that, if it happens, signals will probably be sent to the world about the three countries' positions on certain conflicts. [ 26 , 28 ]

Interfax noted that on 6 October presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said practical work on a three-way meeting had not begun but that all three leaders knew of the idea. Vedomosti recalled that on 29 September the Chinese side said it had no information about such a meeting. [ 5 , 6 ]