The leaders of the United States, China and Russia are planning an unprecedented three-way meeting next Thursday, November 19, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, according to the White House and reporting by The Associated Press.
The planned gathering would bring together President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is expected to take place during the APEC leaders’ meetings in the southern Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen.
What is on the agenda?
A senior U.S. official told reporters that Trump intends to discuss the war involving Iran and his goal of reaching a broader agreement on nuclear arms. The official said the administration does not expect agreements to be announced at the meeting, describing it instead as a possible starting point for further conversations on nuclear disarmament.
The last nuclear arms treaty between Washington and Moscow, New START, expired in February. Trump has called for a new, modernized arrangement that would include China. That proposal faces a major challenge: estimates cited by the Associated Press put the U.S. and Russian nuclear stockpiles at more than 5,000 warheads each, while China’s arsenal is estimated at more than 600.
Ukraine is a major point of concern
The planned meeting is also drawing attention because Russia’s war in Ukraine remains unresolved. The U.S. official said Trump plans to avoid discussing Ukraine during the trilateral session. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced concern that the three powers could discuss a possible settlement without Kyiv directly participating.
The Kremlin has welcomed the prospect of the gathering, while analysts say the meeting could carry more symbolic weight than produce immediate breakthroughs. For China, hosting the leaders offers a chance to demonstrate its diplomatic influence. For Putin, the meeting would put him at the same table as the leaders of the world’s two other largest nuclear powers.
Why the meeting matters
A joint meeting of the three countries’ leaders would be highly unusual at a time of tensions over Ukraine, Iran, trade and nuclear security. Even without a signed agreement, the discussions could shape future diplomatic contacts and signal where Washington, Beijing and Moscow are willing — or unwilling — to cooperate.
The White House has confirmed plans for the meeting, but the talks have not yet taken place. The Shade Wire will update this report as additional details about the agenda and schedule are released.
Sources: The Associated Press; Reuters.
