Trump Opens Door to Potential Meeting with Xi and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of a trilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin this coming November. Such a meeting could potentially address nuclear arms control, denuclearization, trade, and efforts to ease various geopolitical tensions.

The meeting might take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit, scheduled for November 18–19 in China. If it comes to fruition, it would mark the first time Trump, Xi, and Putin have held formal, joint discussions. This plan emerges as Washington seeks to improve relations with both Beijing and Moscow—though such a rapprochement could also spark concerns among U.S. allies in Europe and Asia.

The Russia-Ukraine issue is also a point of concern. In recent days, Trump has taken steps toward improving ties with Moscow, including addressing certain sanctions related to the Russian energy sector. This policy has drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who argues that it could strengthen Russia’s position. Meanwhile, amidst these diplomatic efforts, Russia has launched fresh, major attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Discussions regarding nuclear arms control also face significant hurdles. The New START treaty—which covers the nuclear strategies of both the U.S. and Russia—is set to expire this year, while China has dismissed calls for it to join trilateral nuclear disarmament talks as unrealistic. Trump himself has noted that a denuclearization agreement does not necessarily need to be reached within this year.

Trump is set to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen next month, where he may have another opportunity to meet with Xi. Furthermore, Trump has alluded to the possibility of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though nothing has been confirmed. For its part, North Korea has previously shown little openness to negotiations aimed at persuading the country to abandon its nuclear program.

Newsmaker Analysis: Should it take place, a meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin could represent a major development in global geopolitics. The meeting has the potential to open avenues for negotiation regarding arms, trade, and the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the diverging interests of the three nations, combined with the stances of China and Russia on nuclear issues, make the prospect of reaching a concrete agreement a significant challenge. (asd)

Source: Newsmaker.id