Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his openness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month, a move that could sideline Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from critical discussions about nuclear disarmament and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on October 19, Trump indicated his willingness to facilitate an end to the conflict, though he criticized Zelensky’s negotiation strategies, suggesting that another representative might be more effective in representing Ukraine.
The potential summit comes in the wake of a deadly Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, which killed six civilians, including two children, and injured 15 others. The attack has intensified calls from Zelensky for stronger Western air defenses and continued sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha cautioned that excluding Ukraine from such high-level talks could embolden Moscow to persist with its military aggression. He emphasized that any genuine diplomatic effort must involve direct participation from Kyiv and urged Russia to show a real commitment to peace.
Trump’s comments also come amid his decision to ease certain restrictions on Russian diesel exports and to waive new sanctions against Moscow, actions that have drawn criticism from Kyiv. Ukrainian officials argue these measures could inadvertently provide Russia with additional revenue to continue its military operations.
The Kremlin has acknowledged discussions about a possible meeting in China during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen this November, although no formal proposal or agenda has been established. China’s government has also stated it has no information on such a summit. Moscow is reportedly interested in talks that could help shape a resolution to the ongoing conflict, with Putin seeking dialogues with both Trump and Xi during the summit.
These developments occur amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over issues such as sanctions, military assistance, and the terms for ending the war. Ukraine insists that its future must not be decided without its involvement in negotiations, underscoring the complexity and high stakes of international diplomacy surrounding the conflict.