Trump Open to ‘Denuclearization’ Summit with Putin and Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he is open to hosting a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China to discuss denuclearization. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump emphasized that the meeting, which would mark the first time the three leaders convene outside of a multilateral forum, would focus primarily on nuclear disarmament. He stated that if Xi wished to proceed, the summit would be held in China. The three leaders are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in late November. According to the Wall Street Journal, Putin reportedly proposed the idea during a phone call with Trump on October 9, aiming to facilitate a resolution to the war in Ukraine without involving Ukrainian representatives. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about the potential meeting were ongoing. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio also mentioned that talks about the possibility of such a summit were taking place. Trump clarified that while the summit might touch upon broader topics, the primary objective would be to address nuclear weapons and denuclearization. This aligns with his previous statements regarding reducing the global arms race. In a 2018 social media post, Trump suggested that he envisioned a future where he, Xi, and Putin could work toward halting the escalating arms race among the three nuclear powers. He reiterated this sentiment recently, stating that he would prefer to denuclearize the world if possible. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as of January 2026, there are approximately 12,187 nuclear warheads globally, with about 9,745 in military stockpiles ready for deployment. Russia holds the largest share, followed closely by the United States, together accounting for 83% of the global stockpile. China ranks third with over 600 warheads, representing 6% of the total, although SIPRI noted that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a faster rate than any other nation. Russian and U.S. deployments of new nuclear warheads are projected to rise in the coming years. Moscow’s increase is largely attributed to military modernization enabling missiles to carry more warheads, whereas Washington’s growth may stem from deploying additional warheads onto existing launchers, reactivating dormant ones, and introducing new non-strategic nuclear weapons. Trump expressed his desire to engage in denuclearization talks with both Russia and China. However, he acknowledged that China might be less inclined to participate in such discussions. During his first term, Trump attempted, without success, to include China in nuclear arms reduction negotiations alongside the U.S. and Russia. Efforts to involve China in current discussions have thus far been rebuffed by Beijing, which argues that the U.S. and Russia must first reduce their larger arsenals before engaging in such talks. Putin’s proposal for a trilateral summit on Ukraine excludes Ukraine itself, a position that has been strongly opposed by Kyiv. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the idea, stating that a meeting between the leaders of Russia, China, and the U.S. would only encourage Putin to continue the war. Sybiha suggested that a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia could help end the conflict more swiftly. Trump also commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing frustration with the ongoing war and suggesting that someone else should represent Ukraine in negotiations. He claimed that Zelenskyy does not understand the situation well and that a different negotiator could achieve a better outcome. Trump argued that many lives have been lost unnecessarily and that Zelenskyy is not contributing positively to resolving the conflict. The potential summit has raised concerns among Western allies, particularly in Europe and Asia, about the implications of private agreements that could undermine U.S. transatlantic and Indo-Pacific alliances. However, a successful negotiation between the three nuclear powers could significantly reduce global tensions. An agreement to end the war in Ukraine would alleviate the greatest threat to European security in decades, while a deal on arms control could bind the three nations with the largest nuclear stockpiles. Trump has been working to improve relations with both China and Russia, despite initial skepticism from the West. Recent actions, such as a diesel fuel deal with Russia and the waiver of certain sanctions against Moscow, indicate a shift in U.S.-Russia relations. Similarly, Trump has sought to maintain stable relations with China, even as Xi Jinping has cultivated closer ties with Putin. The White House has been considering a meeting between the three leaders focused on denuclearization during the APEC summit in Shenzhen. Discussions about the possibility of such a meeting have been ongoing for weeks, according to a source familiar with the planning. The Kremlin confirmed that the idea had emerged in recent talks, although China has yet to officially endorse the proposal.