Trump to attend Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen, potential trilateral talks with Putin and Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he will travel to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on November 18-19 and expects to hold meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said the agenda will include "denuclearisation" and efforts to end the war in Iran.

The Kremlin confirmed on October 21 that preparations are under way for a possible three-way meeting, while a Wall Street Journal report indicated that Putin hopes the talks could also address a peace framework for Ukraine favorable to Moscow.

"I think it will happen. The question is the format and the content," said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, adding that China seeks a positive image from the summit without incurring significant costs.

Former senior State Department official Danny Russel described the prospective meeting as a "diplomatic coup" for Putin and noted that Trump has faced criticism for engaging with authoritarian leaders.

Analysts such as Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, warned that the encounter may be largely symbolic, providing a photo opportunity for the three leaders but offering limited substantive diplomatic outcomes.