Russia, China and US leaders weigh trilateral meeting at APEC summit in Shenzhen

Diplomats say a historic three‑way summit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump could take place at the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen in November 2026. Russian ambassador Marat Berdyev confirmed that the Russian delegation will be led by President Putin, while U.S. officials have indicated Trump’s intention to attend. The gathering would provide a platform to discuss strategic stability, nuclear arms‑control mechanisms and ongoing conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula.

Experts note that while the prospect of a face‑to‑face meeting is being floated, an immediate treaty or agreement is unlikely. Instead, the summit could launch expert‑level talks on a multilateral notification system and confidence‑building measures, and may signal a shift in diplomatic engagement among the three nuclear powers.