US, Russian, and Chinese Leaders Plan Unprecedented Three-Way Talks

What happened

The White House announced that leaders from the United States, Russia, and China are planning an unprecedented three-way meeting. The discussions will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen.

While the White House stated that topics will include the reduction of nuclear weapons and the war in Iran, an unnamed senior American official indicated that no formal agreements are expected to follow the talks. The planned summit has drawn historical comparisons to the 1945 Yalta Conference, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that any outcomes could not be imposed on others.

How it unfolded

The upcoming trilateral meeting follows the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Washington and Moscow in February. President Trump rejected a Russian proposal to extend that deal for another year, demanding instead a modernized framework that includes China.

Ahead of the summit, Trump is scheduled to arrive in Shenzhen late Wednesday for the two-day APEC gathering. His itinerary also includes bilateral talks with Xi Jinping on Thursday, marking their fourth meeting since Trump returned to office in 2025.

The people involved

The primary participants in the planned summit are US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Additionally, White House officials confirmed that Elon Musk will travel with Trump to China, though he will not participate in the trilateral meeting.

Other notable figures commenting on or affected by the diplomatic developments include Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who called the upcoming talks extremely significant, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who voiced concerns regarding potential discussions concerning Ukraine.

Response and aftermath

Reactions to the announcement varied internationally. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed anxiety that the platform might be used to negotiate a deal regarding Ukraine behind Kyiv's back. Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged both Washington and Moscow to agree on a new nuclear framework without delay.

Senior US officials and analysts have previously noted that incorporating both Beijing and Moscow into a unified nuclear agreement could present major hurdles and take years. Moscow and Beijing themselves were initially yet to comment directly on the trilateral announcement, though Chinese state media noted bilateral talks involving Xi.

What we still don't know

Specific details regarding the exact daily schedule of the trilateral meeting have not been fully outlined beyond taking place during the two-day APEC summit. It remains unconfirmed whether any secondary diplomatic outcomes or minor accords might emerge despite expectations that no major agreements will be reached.