Putin proposes trilateral summit with Trump and Xi to end Ukraine war

The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding a summit next month with former US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year-old conflict in Ukraine, in a manner favorable to Moscow.

According to the newspaper, quoting a former Russian intelligence officer familiar with the matter, the proposal was made during a phone call on October 9 between Putin and Trump, which also resulted in an agreement on diesel supplies between the two countries.

The Journal, citing sources familiar with the discussions, said the Kremlin suggested holding the trilateral talks on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen.

Kremlin and Washington's positions

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to the newspaper that discussions are underway regarding a possible meeting. He said: "There is not yet a clear understanding regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, but all three parties acknowledge that such a meeting is possible."

A senior US official told the newspaper that Trump has not agreed to such a summit, though he may be open to the idea.

The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment from Reuters, and the Kremlin could not be reached outside normal business hours. The Russian and Chinese embassies in Washington have also not responded to requests for comment.

Diesel deal and Zelensky criticism

The proposal comes amid improving relations between Trump and Putin, particularly after the US president announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel and signed an order on Friday exempting Moscow from major sanctions.

The agreement and executive order drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who warned that it would encourage Putin and prolong the war.