US, China, and Russia Leaders to Hold Unprecedented Three-Way Summit

The leaders of the United States, China, and Russia are set to hold a historic three-way meeting next week, the White House has confirmed. US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China's tech hub. The meeting, announced by the White House assistant press secretary, has drawn significant attention globally.

The talks will take place nine months after the last nuclear arms treaty between Washington and Moscow expired, leaving the world's two countries with the largest atomic arsenals without caps for the first time in over 50 years. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) lapsed in February, and Trump subsequently rejected Russia's proposal to extend it for another year. Trump has said the meeting is an opportunity for the three countries to reach a deal on nuclear stockpiles.

Expectations for the meeting are low, with a senior Trump administration official telling Reuters that no agreement is expected. The official described the meeting as the start of a conversation. Russia holds the most nuclear warheads, followed by the US, then China, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The meeting has drawn comparisons with the 1945 Yalta Conference, where the leaders of the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union shaped the post-war order.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the parallel, saying any agreements reached in Shenzhen cannot be imposed on others. However, Peskov called the meeting "extremely significant". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern that the meeting could become a platform to discuss a Ukraine deal behind Kyiv's back. Trump has pursued closer ties with both leaders despite a short-lived trade war with China last year and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump plans to discuss the Iran war with Xi and Putin during the meeting. However, he will avoid discussing Russia's war in Ukraine, according to a senior US official. Elon Musk will also travel with Trump to China but will not attend the meeting, the official added. Trump is not expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the Asia trip.

The meeting has significant implications for global politics and nuclear disarmament. The three countries have significant influence on global affairs, and their discussions on nuclear stockpiles and other issues will be closely watched. The White House has not provided further details on the agenda or expected outcomes from the meeting.

The APEC summit in Shenzhen will bring together leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss economic and security issues. The meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin will be a key event on the sidelines of the summit. The three leaders will likely discuss a range of issues, including trade, security, and nuclear disarmament, although specific details remain scarce.

Key points

• The meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin is seen as a significant development in global politics, with implications for nuclear disarmament and global security.