Trump Signals Readiness for Three-Way Talks in China with Putin and Xi

Donald Trump has stated that he is prepared to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China. In parallel remarks, Trump escalated his public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arguing that the time had come for someone else to step forward and conduct negotiations on Ukraine's behalf. The proposal, reported by Euronews, outlines a framework in which the United States, Russia, and China would convene directly, while explicitly questioning the standing of Ukraine's wartime leadership at the diplomatic table.

A summit bringing together the leaders of Washington, Moscow, and Beijing on Chinese soil would represent a major geopolitical realignment. China has consistently sought to position itself as a neutral mediator in the conflict while maintaining deep strategic and economic ties with the Kremlin. By suggesting talks in Beijing alongside Moscow and simultaneously calling to bypass President Zelenskyy, Trump's stance challenges the foundational principle held by Kyiv and Western allies that no decisions regarding Ukraine's territory and future should be negotiated without Ukraine's direct leadership and consent.

European Union institutions have not issued an official response to Trump's specific comments regarding a three-way summit or his remarks on Ukraine's leadership. However, the proposal runs contrary to the established stance of the European Commission and the European Council, which have repeatedly insisted that peace terms cannot be dictated over Kyiv's head. The prospect of peace talks arranged between great powers outside established transatlantic forums, and with Ukraine sidelined, represents precisely the diplomatic scenario European officials have consistently resisted.

Neither Beijing nor Moscow has confirmed any formal plans or invitations for a three-party summit. Any steps toward such a gathering would depend entirely on political developments in Washington and whether international partners would accept a diplomatic track that seeks to replace or circumvent Ukraine's elected administration. For now, the suggestion remains an attributed public stance rather than an active, scheduled diplomatic negotiation.