What did Putin and Trump discuss about Xi Jinping at the Shenzhen APEC summit?

The Kremlin said Putin and Trump discussed the idea of a trilateral meeting with Xi Jinping at the November APEC summit in Shenzhen. Peskov said the possibility had been mentioned before and that there would be such an opportunity.

When and where is the next APEC summit taking place?

APEC is scheduled to hold its summit in Shenzhen, China, between November 18 and 19. Russia has indicated Putin will attend, but the White House has not said whether Trump will go.

Why is the November APEC summit drawing attention in Washington and Moscow?

The summit comes as Washington is pushing Russia to end the Ukraine war and as ties between Moscow and Beijing deepen. U.S. envoys visited Moscow and Kyiv last week, but no breakthrough was announced.

Putin, Trump discussed idea of trilateral summit with Xi: Kremlin

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Summary

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the idea of a trilateral meeting with China’s Xi Jinping at an upcoming November summit in Shenzhen, the Kremlin said Wednesday. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is scheduled to meet there on November 18-19. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the possibility had been mentioned before and that there would be an opportunity. Russia says Putin will attend, while the White House has not yet said whether Trump will.

Key Facts

APEC is scheduled to hold its summit in Shenzhen, China, between November 18 and 19.
The forum includes Russia, China and the United States.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the trilateral meeting possibility had been mentioned before.
U.S. envoys visited both Moscow and Kyiv last week but did not announce a breakthrough on ending the Ukraine war.

By AFP

Published Sep 9, 2026 8:27 pm KST
Updated Sep 9, 2026 8:47 pm KST

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the end of a joint press conference after participating in a U.S.-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. AFP-Yonhap

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump discussed the idea of holding a trilateral meeting with China's Xi Jinping at an upcoming summit in November, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is scheduled to hold a summit in the Chinese city of Shenzhen between November 18-19.

Russia has indicated Putin will attend, although the White House has not yet announced whether Trump will be there.

Asked whether Trump and Putin discussed the idea of a trilateral meeting in Shenzhen during their phone call on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Undoubtedly."

"This potential possibility has been mentioned before, and there will be such an opportunity," Peskov told reporters, including AFP.

APEC is an intergovernmental forum that dates to the 1980s.

The group, which includes Russia, China and the United States, is among the most important forums for economic cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

The November summit comes as Washington pushes Russia for an end to the Ukraine war, and amid deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing.

U.S. envoys visited both Moscow and Kyiv last week, but did not announce a breakthrough in talks to end the war in Ukraine.

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