Xi Jinping Could Thwart Putin's Plans
- 28.10.2026, 16:22
Beijing does not want to discuss Ukraine or nuclear disarmament.
Chinese President Xi Jinping may decline to participate in a trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Putin, which is being discussed in connection with the November APEC summit in Shenzhen. Such a meeting could put Beijing in an awkward position due to disagreements over Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and relations with Europe, writes The Diplomat.
Moscow is interested in negotiations that would allow it to emerge from diplomatic isolation and stand on equal footing with the U.S. and China. A desirable outcome for the Kremlin could be an agreement on Ukraine’s future modeled after the 1945 Yalta Conference—without Kyiv’s full participation. Trump has already refused to discuss Ukraine.
However, for Beijing, such a format poses serious risks. China had previously insisted that both Russia and Ukraine must participate in the negotiation process. Negotiations on the country’s future without the Ukrainian side would contradict this position.
The issue of nuclear disarmament poses an additional problem. Trump proposed making it the top item on the meeting’s agenda. Beijing, however, refuses to participate in negotiations on equal footing with Moscow and Washington, since its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller. China insists that the U.S. and Russia must first substantially reduce their stockpiles.
“Xi has strategic reasons to avoid such a meeting,” writes The Diplomat. The summit could also overshadow APEC’s main objective—promoting economic cooperation and showcasing China’s role in the global economy.
If Beijing is unable to decline the meeting, it may try to change its format—holding informal talks with a vague agenda instead of an official summit focused on Ukraine or nuclear weapons.
For Europe and Kyiv, the fundamental difference lies in whether the meeting will appear to be a routine exchange of views or an attempt by three powers to decide the fate of the European continent without the participation of its countries.