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

Axios · 10/19/2026, 8:04:17 PM

President Trump wants to hold a trilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir 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 a willingness to hold such a summit. What he's saying: When asked 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.