Putin proposes trilateral summit with Trump and Xi to end Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed a trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year war in Ukraine. According to the Wall Street Journal, the proposal was made during a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump on October 9, during which the two leaders also finalized a deal for the supply of Russian diesel to global markets. President Trump has recently escalated criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, questioning his commitment to peace, while defending the recent suspension of U.S. sanctions against Moscow to facilitate potential negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently visiting Uzbekistan for meetings with the 'C5+1' group, confirmed that discussions regarding such a high-level summit have taken place. While Rubio noted he was unsure if the plans had been finalized, he emphasized that President Trump is clear in his desire to bring an end to the conflict. The potential summit could coincide with the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. The administration warns that the prolonged war carries significant risks of escalation and broader destabilization.