Trump, Xi and Putin plan trilateral summit in China
The United States confirms that the three leaders want to meet on Thursday during the APEC summit in Shenzhen.
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Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are planning a joint meeting in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on Thursday. The White House confirmed on Friday that the three leaders want to speak on the sidelines of the APEC summit, which takes place on 18 and 19 November.
A trilateral meeting of the American, Chinese and Russian leaders would be exceptional. According to The Associated Press, they are the leaders of three of the world’s largest nuclear powers. The meeting has only been announced as a plan; the talks themselves have yet to take place.
Trump is travelling to China next week for the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a forum comprising 21 economies. The Chinese government announced on Friday that Xi Jinping will attend the APEC meeting in Shenzhen. The official Chinese announcement refers to the planned summit and APEC’s theme, but does not independently confirm all the details of a meeting with Putin and Trump.
Trump had already said that he wanted to meet Xi and Putin during the APEC meeting. Reuters reported, based on a New York Post report, that the three leaders would hold a summit on Thursday. The new American confirmation makes the plan more concrete than the earlier statements, but does not yet say which agreements will be on the table.
The meeting carries added weight because of the war in Ukraine and tensions between Washington and Beijing. European leaders fear, according to AP, that talks about Ukraine will be held without Ukrainian and European representatives. According to AP, the European Union and five individual European countries plan to send diplomats to a subsequent round of talks about Ukraine.
For the Netherlands, the main issue is what role Europe will have in decisions about European security and Ukraine. A conversation between Trump and Putin without European participation could reduce the room for manoeuvre of European governments, while China, as host, could at the same time demonstrate its influence in international diplomacy. These are possible consequences of the chosen composition, not decisions that have already emerged from the summit.
Little is officially known about substantive issues either. Reuters previously reported that Trump wanted to discuss, among other things, ending the war in Iran and nuclear disarmament at a meeting with Xi and Putin. According to AP, the White House has not announced a detailed negotiating outcome. The significance of the summit therefore depends on whether the three leaders are merely seeking contact or are also preparing joint statements and agreements.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The White House has confirmed that Trump, Xi and Putin are planning a joint meeting during the APEC summit in Shenzhen.
- APEC takes place on 18 and 19 November.
- European leaders are trying to remain involved in talks about Ukraine.
- There is no confirmed negotiating outcome or joint statement yet.
Left
Arguments A conversation between the three leaders can be legitimate and lasting only if Ukraine and Europe are not left out. Diplomacy must not result in agreements about other people’s security without their representation.
Values International rule of law, self-determination and the protection of smaller countries.
Consequences A summit without Ukraine and Europe could deepen mistrust and undermine the legitimacy of any peace settlement.
Centre
Arguments Direct contact between those in power can be useful, even if the outcome is uncertain. At the same time, European and Ukrainian interests must be incorporated through an established diplomatic process before decisions are taken.
Values Diplomacy, institutional continuity and workable compromises.
Consequences The meeting could open channels of communication, but concrete agreements will probably require broader negotiations and verifiable guarantees.
Right
Arguments The United States must retain its own diplomatic room for manoeuvre and be able to speak directly with Russia and China. Europe should above all ensure that it can come to the table with a clear security strategy, rather than setting conditions in advance.
Values National sovereignty, security and strategic effectiveness.
Consequences A smaller negotiating format could work more quickly, but could also make European countries more dependent on decisions by Washington, Beijing and Moscow.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central claim is confirmed by AP and by Reuters’ reporting on the planned meeting. The text clearly distinguishes between an announced meeting and actual agreements, for which there is still no confirmation.
- confirmed The White House confirmed on 13 November that Trump, Xi and Putin are planning a joint meeting. — AP reports that the plans were confirmed by the White House on Friday. source
- confirmed The meeting is scheduled for Thursday during the APEC summit in Shenzhen. — AP names Thursday and Shenzhen; Reuters refers to the same planned summit. source
- confirmed APEC takes place on 18 and 19 November. — The Chinese embassy lists these dates for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. source
- confirmed APEC comprises 21 economies. — Reuters reporting on the APEC summit refers to the forum of 21 economies. source
- confirmed European countries fear being excluded from talks about Ukraine. — AP describes that concern and reports plans for a European diplomatic team. source
- confirmed The substantive agenda and agreements have not yet been officially worked out. — AP confirms the meeting but reports no agreed outcome; the Chinese announcement does not mention the trilateral agenda. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the White House has confirmed the planned meeting and that APEC will take place in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November. The agenda, any agreements and the definitive attendance of all three leaders are not yet known.Sources
- Trump, Xi and Putin plan an unprecedented joint meeting on the sidelines of APEC, White House says — Associated Press
- Europe to send a diplomat team to Ukraine talks as leaders push for a voice — Associated Press
- Trump to hold summit with Xi, Putin in Shenzhen on Thursday, NY Post reports — Reuters via Investing.com
- Xi Jinping to Attend the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Related Events — Chinese Embassy
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „apec china”
- De Telegraaf — „apec china”
- AD — „apec china”