A meeting involving three of the world’s most powerful leaders is expected to take place in China next week, bringing together U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for discussions on some of the most pressing issues in international security. According to the White House, the three leaders are expected to meet in the Chinese city of Shenzhen during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The proposed trilateral meeting will take place during Trump’s planned visit to China, with global nuclear disarmament expected to feature prominently on the agenda. The issue is considered a major priority for the U.S. administration, which views the spread of nuclear weapons as a serious threat to international security.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales has indicated that Trump attaches considerable importance to the nuclear weapons issue and wants it to be a central part of his discussions with the Russian and Chinese leaders. She emphasized that nuclear proliferation represents a significant danger, making efforts to reduce the number of these weapons one of the expected priorities of the meeting.
Nuclear security will not be the only subject on the agenda. Developments involving Iran are also expected to feature in the talks, while the war in Ukraine is not currently expected to be discussed during the trilateral meeting. The decision to leave Ukraine off the agenda is notable given that Trump and Putin are both expected to participate in the same discussions.
Despite the significance of bringing the three leaders together, expectations for a concrete outcome remain relatively modest. A senior U.S. official, cited by the AP and Reuters, said the meeting is not expected to produce any specific agreement.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Beijing have yet to publicly respond to the White House announcement concerning the proposed meeting.
According to the announced schedule, Trump is expected to arrive in Shenzhen on Wednesday evening to attend the two-day APEC summit. The gathering brings together 21 economies and represents a major part of the U.S. president’s diplomatic visit to the Asia-Pacific region.
His schedule in China will also include a separate meeting with Xi Jinping. The two presidents are expected to hold bilateral talks on Thursday, providing another opportunity to discuss relations between Washington and Beijing.
The encounter will mark the fourth meeting between Trump and Xi since the American president returned to the White House in 2025.
Before traveling to China, Trump is scheduled to visit the Philippines, where he will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Tuesday. His regional trip will consequently include two major diplomatic gatherings, beginning in the Philippines before continuing to Shenzhen for the APEC summit.
The White House has said the purpose of Trump’s visit is to deliver benefits for American citizens while advancing U.S. interests throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
