Trump, Putin and Xi Could Share a Stage in Shenzhen This November

A Trump-Putin-Xi summit is on the table, and the Financial Times says the push is coming from two sides. The US and Russia are pressing China to sign off on a trilateral meeting, according to people familiar with the matter. The window being eyed: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on Nov. 18 and 19.

Beijing hasn't made the call yet. Sources told the FT that China is still weighing whether to put all three leaders in one room or run separate bilateral sitdowns instead. That decision will shape what the November gathering actually looks like — a single photo-op with three of the world's most powerful figures, or a series of one-on-ones.

Ukraine may not make the agenda at all. One source said Russia doesn't expect the leaders to discuss the war, and speculated that China is steering clear of an active mediating role. The read, per that source, is that Beijing would rather step in at the end — "only taking credit once a peace settlement is in sight."

The APEC setting gives the talks a natural cover. It's an economic forum, and all three leaders would already be in the region for it, making the logistics far simpler than a standalone summit. Shenzhen, China's tech and trade hub, would host the whole thing.

For now, nothing is locked. The FT's reporting describes a possibility under negotiation, not a done deal, and China holds the deciding vote on the format. Watch Beijing's signal in the coming weeks — whether it greenlights a trio or keeps its options open with bilateral tracks.