Trump to meet Putin and Xi in China as APEC opens a chance for strength and strategic peace
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The White House says President Trump will meet Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, with nuclear arms reduction among the issues under discussion.
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 sober acknowledgment of the threat posed by runaway arms racing.
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," reflecting a clear effort to defend U.S. strength and leadership in a critical region.
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, which suggests the discussions may be difficult, but also leaves room for President Trump to press his advantage and test whether serious diplomacy can reduce tensions.
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, offering an opportunity for responsible leadership to prevent a dangerous arms buildup.