Trump Floats Denuclearization for Putin-Xi Summit, Sidestepping Ukraine

A high-stakes diplomatic chess match is unfolding as former US President Donald Trump signals he is open to a groundbreaking trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but with a clear condition: the focus must be on reducing nuclear weapons, not primarily the war in Ukraine. This comes after Putin reportedly proposed such a meeting on the sidelines of next month's APEC summit in China, aimed at discussing Ukraine and reaching a settlement favorable to Moscow. The proposed gathering in Shenzhen, China, during the November 18-19 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, highlights a sharp division in global agendas. While Moscow wants to shape an end to the four-year Ukraine conflict without Kyiv at the table, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already slammed the idea, calling it an attempt to force his country's surrender. Trump's emphasis on denuclearization underscores his long-standing interest in reducing global nuclear arsenals and follows recent discussions he's had with both Russia and China on the topic. As the APEC summit approaches, all eyes will be on whether this unprecedented trilateral meeting actually takes shape and, more importantly, what its true agenda becomes. With separate US diplomatic efforts already underway in Norway to revive Russia-Ukraine peace talks with Ukrainian participation, the potential Shenzhen summit adds a complex and controversial layer to global stability efforts, leaving the world wondering if a new power dynamic is about to be forged.