Putin's Bold Summit Play: Trump, Xi Invited to Ukraine Peace Talks, Kyiv Outraged

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly pitched a high-stakes trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the four-year-old Ukraine war. This audacious proposal, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, came during an October 9 phone call between Putin and Trump that also saw a controversial deal for the US to buy Russian diesel. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha immediately slammed the idea, warning it would only encourage Putin to prolong the conflict by granting him undue legitimacy. The proposed meeting, possibly on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, represents a significant diplomatic gambit by Moscow to reshape the peace process on its own terms, conspicuously excluding Ukraine. Trump, while not yet officially committing, is reportedly receptive to the idea, aligning with his campaign promise to end the war and his recent decision to ease US sanctions on Russia while pushing Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. This move is raising serious alarm bells in Kyiv and among European allies, who fear it could undermine international efforts to support Ukraine and legitimize Russia's aggression without any concessions from the Kremlin. With the APEC summit looming in mid-November, the world watches closely to see if Trump will indeed join this unprecedented three-way dialogue. While China has signaled it would not oppose the meeting if Trump attends, viewing it as an opportunity to elevate its diplomatic influence, the absence of Ukraine from such critical talks could have far-reaching implications for future peace efforts and the broader geopolitical landscape. The coming weeks will test the resolve of the international community and the fragile balance of power as major players weigh their next moves in this escalating diplomatic chess match.