Trump to hold trilateral nuclear summit with Xi and Putin

US seeks new three-way nuclear arms agreement

The primary focus of the trilateral meeting is to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear arms control.

The previous US-Russia nuclear treaty, New START, expired in February, and President Trump declined to extend it in favor of a modernized deal that includes China. Pentagon estimates suggest that China possesses more than 600 nuclear warheads, while the US and Russia each hold over 5,000.

US official clarifies stance on Iran and Ukraine

A US official said on 14 November 2026 that President Trump plans to discuss Iran during the meeting with Presidents Putin and Xi. The official added that the situation in Ukraine will not be on the agenda.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is concerned the trilateral meeting might be used to negotiate a deal regarding Ukraine without Kyiv's participation.

Experts weigh in on potential summit outcomes

Kagan said Putin likely wants to signal his ability to make decisions regarding Ukraine, a prospect that concerns European nations and Ukraine.

Hoo Tiang Boon of Nanyang Technological University said the trilateral meeting could undermine China's efforts to present itself as a defender of free trade and multilateralism at APEC.

Historical diplomatic ties between the three leaders

Presidents Xi and Putin have met more than 40 times since 2013 and refer to one another as "dear friend".

President Trump and Putin have held seven face-to-face meetings, with the most recent occurring in Alaska in August 2025.

President Trump and Xi have held eight face-to-face meetings, including a state visit by Xi to Washington in September.

Kremlin and China-Russia economic relations

China acts as the primary trading partner for Russia, continuing to supply high-tech components and purchasing energy despite Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. President Trump recently waived sanctions on Russia to facilitate a diesel deal, citing Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries as the cause of high energy prices. Analysts, however, identify the war with Iran as the primary driver of these energy costs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that a meeting between the leaders of Russia, China, and the United States is highly significant. Peskov said, "It's clear that a meeting between the leaders of countries such as Russia, China and the United States is extremely significant.".

Peskov rejected comparisons between the Shenzhen summit and the 1945 Yalta Conference, noting that any agreements reached cannot be enforced on third parties. Regarding the global order, Peskov argued it should be based on mutual benefit and respect without any party attempting to impose its own specific view. Peskov said, "However, let's not forget that the vision for a global order is that no one tries to impose any particular view of global order, and it should be based entirely on mutual benefit and mutual respect.".

Marco Rubio initiates trilateral summit proposal

The proposal for the trilateral summit originated from discussions between United States and Chinese officials. On 11 November, US official Marco Rubio raised the possibility of the meeting during a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The US government reported on 14 November that China has agreed on the importance of holding leader-level talks to advance denuclearization. The talks between President Trump and President Xi are expected to test progress regarding trade, strategic stability, and SI.