Putin’s China gambit: Will Xi & Trump decide Ukraine’s future without Zelensky? | Russia, APEC

Vladimir Putin is reportedly pushing for a summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine’s future, potentially without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the table. According to The Wall Street Journal, Putin raised the proposal during an October 9 phone call with Trump, with the Kremlin exploring the possibility of holding talks during the November 18–19 APEC summit in Shenzhen, China. However, a senior U.S. official told Reuters that Trump has not agreed to the proposed meeting. If the summit goes ahead, could Moscow gain greater influence over Ukraine’s future while Kyiv and European leaders risk being sidelined in crucial negotiations?