"Putin and Xi Jinping will discuss bringing Trump into a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of APEC in November 2026."

Russia reveals that Putin and Xi Jinping discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting with Trump during APEC in Shenzhen in November. If this were to happen, it would be an unprecedented meeting of the leaders of the three nuclear powers.

On September 3, 2026, at 4:53 PM, Bloomberg News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the possibility of holding a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump during this year's APEC summit hosted by China. If this were to happen, it would be an unprecedented meeting between the leaders of the world's three largest nuclear powers.

Yuri Uchakov, a Kremlin foreign policy advisor and former Russian ambassador to the United States, revealed to Russian state television that the idea was discussed between Putin and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan.

However, whether the trilateral meeting will take place depends on whether Trump decides to attend the APEC summit, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China on November 18-19.

Uchakov stated that Putin plans to attend the meeting and may hold discussions with both Xi Jinping and Trump, either through separate bilateral meetings or a trilateral meeting.

To date, China and the United States have not expressed detailed views on the proposed trilateral meeting, but if it were to happen, it would be a significant development for Russia, which is trying to reduce the diplomatic isolation it has faced since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

The meeting could also provide an opportunity for Xi Jinping to play a mediating role in bringing Putin and Trump together.

Ian Ja Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, views the meeting as potentially restoring Putin's status on the world stage. For Trump, the joint appearance could provide an opportunity to reinforce his image as a peacemaker and negotiator.

If Putin attends APEC in Shenzhen, which is typically attended by leaders from major economies such as Canada, Japan, and South Korea, it would be one of the most prominent international meetings for the Russian leader since the start of the Ukraine war.

China and Russia have developed closer ties in recent years, with Xi Jinping and Putin declaring an unconditional partnership before the Ukrainian war began in 2565. China has provided Russia with both economic and diplomatic support, amidst criticism from European governments and the United States.

Although the leaders of the three countries have attended the same international events before, Putin, Xi Jinping, and Trump have never specifically held discussions together.

Meanwhile, the United States and China are preparing for a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping in the US at the end of September, amid a fragile tariff truce scheduled to expire in November if not extended.

When asked about the possibility of a trilateral meeting, Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that there was currently no information on the matter. He affirmed that, as the host of APEC, China is ready to work with all parties to ensure the success of this year's APEC hosting.

A trilateral summit between China, Russia, and the United States has no direct precedent in modern history. Bloomberg compares the closest event to the Yalta Conference in 1945, when Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, and Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, discussed the restructuring of Europe as Nazi Germany neared its defeat in World War II.

However, analysts remain questioning how much incentive China would have to hold such a meeting.

Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, believes that China sees itself as a superpower on par with the United States and may not want to elevate Russia's status on the international stage unless Trump seriously pushes for such a meeting.

Even if a meeting between Trump, Xi Jinping, and Putin does take place, it remains unclear what kind of agreements the three parties will be able to reach. Meanwhile, other countries or power groups, such as India and Europe, may be displeased if excluded from the trilateral discussions.

For Putin, simply participating in APEC and meeting with high-level leaders would be a diplomatic benefit, after years of isolation. And if a trilateral meeting were to take place, it could further enhance the image of the Russian leader as a key player in shaping global politics once again.

Reference: www.bloomberg.com

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