US, Russia, and China leaders to hold historic trilateral meeting in Shenzhen

U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet on November 19 in Shenzhen, China. The trilateral discussion will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. This rare gathering of the world's three largest nuclear powers was confirmed by the White House, although Moscow and Beijing have kept details regarding the agenda and format strictly controlled, with some reports suggesting China may attempt to limit the scope of discussions.

Key agenda items identified by White House Press Secretary Olivia Wells include global nuclear disarmament, as the U.S. seeks a modernized agreement following the expiration of the New-Start treaty in February. Additionally, U.S. officials stated that President Trump intends to address the situation in Iran. While some reports suggested the war in Ukraine might be a topic, U.S. officials have indicated it is currently excluded from the agenda, noting that Washington views Beijing as having no substantive role in those specific negotiations.

International observers, including analysts from Reuters, remain cautious about the potential for concrete outcomes, citing the leaders' divergent national interests. The prospect of such a high-level meeting has raised concerns in Ukraine, Taiwan, and Japan regarding potential deals that could influence regional stability without their participation. Preparations are ongoing, though no final agreement on the agenda has been confirmed.