Trump open to summit with Xi and Putin — to discuss denuclearization

The Kremlin said earlier that Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping could meet at an Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen next month. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump indicated Monday he is ready to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping in China next month, saying any summit would focus on denuclearisation but could also include the Ukraine war.Trump also renewed his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – whose country has been fighting off a Russian invasion since 2022 – saying it was "time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."The Kremlin said earlier that the Russian, Chinese and US leaders could meet at an Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen next month, following a Wall Street Journal report that Putin wanted the three-way talks to broker a peace deal favourable to Moscow."I would do it, not so much for Ukraine, because Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much," Trump told reporters when asked if he would attend a meeting with Putin and Xi to discuss Ukraine."We would have it to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearisation."Pressed on whether he would discuss Ukraine at any Xi-Putin summit, Trump replied that he would do "whatever I can do to end the war".But Trump defended his recent diesel deal with Putin and decision to waive new sanctions on Moscow, which has opened a huge rift with Kyiv and prompted Zelensky to warn the US leader he is on the wrong side of history."Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about," Trump said when asked about the Ukrainian's comments.

"To be honest, I think it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine in recent months, while Kyiv has accused Washington of withholding vital intelligence and slowing speeds on a satellite system used to track incoming strikes.Six people, including young children, were killed when a Russian drone struck a park in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region on Monday, the authorities said.Kyiv insists on involvementAsked about the Wall Street Journal report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "Given that all three heads of state might potentially attend a summit in China, the topic of such a hypothetical meeting has indeed been mentioned."The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) group holds a summit in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on No… President Trump wants to hold a trilateral summit with Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin in China next month to discuss "denuclearization" — but not necessarily Ukraine.Why it matters: Such a summit between the leaders of the U.S., China and Russia would be unprecedented. Trump has been talking for two years about his aspiration to reach a deal with Russia and China to reduce the number of nuclear weapons.

But so far Putin and Xi haven't shown much openness to the idea. Driving the news: Trump is expected to travel to China in mid-November to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in the city of Shenzhen.The Kremlin has been floating the idea of holding such a meeting since July. Putin raised the issue in two phone calls with Trump, including one last week.

The Chinese government hasn't expressed willingness to hold such a summit.What he's saying: When asked on Monday whether such a summit could discuss ending the war in Ukraine, Trump said he wants to hold such a trilateral meeting, but in order to discuss other issues. "I would do it, not so much for Ukraine, we would have it to talk about denuclearization," he said.