Trump, Putin and Xi set to meet in China as nuclear danger looms over APEC
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The White House says President Trump will sit down with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi on the margins of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, with the perilous issue of nuclear arms reduction on the table.
The White House announced that President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China. Spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the president intends to discuss the reduction of nuclear weapons, describing nuclear proliferation as "very dangerous," a reminder of how high the stakes are when three of the world's most powerful leaders gather.
The trilateral meeting is expected to take place after Trump arrives in Shenzhen for the two-day APEC gathering of 21 member states. He is also scheduled for bilateral talks with Xi on Thursday, marking their fourth encounter since he took office in 2025. Wales added that the visit, which includes an ASEAN summit in the Philippines, aims to "secure historic wins to the American people and advance America's interests in the Indo-Pacific," though such claims will be judged by whether they produce more than photo opportunities and diplomatic theater.
While Iran may be mentioned, officials said Ukraine is not on the agenda. Moscow and Beijing have not commented on the planned talks. An unnamed senior American official indicated no agreement is expected to emerge from the meeting, underscoring how little substance may come from yet another summit of major powers.
The most recent nuclear weapons control treaty between the United States and Russia expired in February, leaving the two largest nuclear arsenals without a binding framework. The United Nations has called for a new agreement, and President Trump has suggested a broader deal that could also involve China, but any real progress will depend on whether the leaders choose disarmament over rivalry.